North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin are expected to stand alongside Chinese President Xi Jinping at a grand military parade in Beijing on Wednesday, in what observers describe as a powerful display of unity against the West.
The spectacle, held at Tiananmen Square, will mark 80 years since the end of World War II, with thousands of troops, flyovers, and high-tech weaponry on show. Millions of Chinese lost their lives during the brutal war with Japan in the 1930s and 40s, which later merged into the wider global conflict after Pearl Harbor in 1941.
All eyes will be on the rare gathering of Xi, Putin, and Kim, the North Korean leader’s second reported trip abroad in six years, in what analysts see as a diplomatic victory for Beijing. The event crowns a week of high-level meetings, including the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Tianjin, where Xi condemned “bullying behaviour” in global politics, a thinly veiled jab at the United States. Putin, meanwhile, used the platform to justify Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Security across Beijing has been tightened ahead of the 70-minute parade, with military personnel lining streets and massive art installations bearing “1945–2025” unveiled around the capital. Though Chinese authorities have kept details secret, rehearsals suggest that anti-ship missiles, underwater drones, anti-missile systems, and even a suspected laser weapon may be unveiled.
Kim Jong Un’s arrival by train on Tuesday was marked by fanfare, with small North Korean flags fluttering over his carriage. Photos released by KCNA showed him smiling in his ornate train cabin and smoking a cigarette on the platform with senior aides. His presence alongside Xi and Putin highlights a deepening alignment among the three nations, especially as no major Western leaders are attending the parade.
What You Should Know
Beijing’s military parade will see Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin, and Kim Jong Un share the stage in a symbolic show of solidarity against Western powers.
The event, marking 80 years since WWII’s end, is expected to unveil China’s latest weaponry, including drones and advanced missile systems.
Kim’s attendance underscores closer ties with China and Russia, breaking years of isolation since the collapse of his talks with Donald Trump in 2019.
