Kim Jong Un, the General Secretary of North Korea’s Workers’ Party, is set to make his debut on the multilateral diplomatic stage on Wednesday in Beijing, China. This coincides with Victory Day commemorations marking the 80th anniversary of triumph in the Anti-Japanese War and World War II. As Kim prepares to stand alongside Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin at the military parade, political analysts are eager to see how he navigates diplomatic encounters with various world leaders.
The Victory Day events are scheduled to begin at 9:00 a.m. in Beijing on Wednesday. Kim departed from Pyongyang on Monday aboard his private train, the Taeyangho, arriving in Beijing at 4:00 p.m. local time on Tuesday.
Photos released by North Korea’s state-run Korean Central News Agency and China’s Xinhua News Agency confirm that Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui and Kim Song-nam, head of the Workers’ Party’s International Department, are accompanying Kim. Notably, his daughter Kim Ju Ae is also part of the delegation. Some experts suggest that bringing Kim Ju Ae along for this crucial meeting with China’s top leader after a 6-year, 8-month hiatus might be interpreted as a de facto successor presentation, according to historical precedents.
Military Parade to Include Delegations from 25 Countries: Will North Korea Engage with Nations Beyond China and Russia?
The military parade will be attended by 25 heads of state or senior leaders, including those from North Korea. The primary focus is whether Kim will engage in active diplomacy not only with China and Russia but also with leaders from other nations during his visit.
Since assuming power in 2012, Kim has visited four countries—China, Russia, Singapore, and Vietnam—conducting bilateral meetings. Observers are keenly watching to see if this event will serve as a stepping stone for North Korea’s entry into multilateral diplomacy.
Kim is expected to hold bilateral talks with President Xi and President Putin. Notably, Russia appears to be taking a proactive stance in this regard.
On Tuesday, Russian news agency Interfax, citing Kremlin advisors, reported a high likelihood of a summit between President Putin and Kim on Wednesday.
TASS news agency also reported that Kim and Putin might continue their discussions following the military parade.
Additionally, there is speculation that Kim may have informal meetings with leaders from friendly nations such as Vietnam, Laos, Belarus, and Iran.
Political analysts are particularly interested in how Kim will manage his interactions with various leaders and how the discussions between China and Russia will unfold. Kim’s presence on the multilateral diplomatic stage serves as a demonstration of his international standing, and he may aim to project an image of a confident, equal negotiator—similar to his approach in bilateral diplomacy.
Given that North Korea’s state-run newspaper Rodong Sinmun swiftly reported on Kim’s visit to China, it is likely that he will leverage this multilateral diplomatic opportunity to challenge North Korea’s image as an isolated state. He may emphasize his ability to stand shoulder to shoulder with world leaders and present a more globally engaged North Korea to his domestic audience.
Strengthening Ties with China and Russia Remains the Main Goal; A Trilateral Meeting and Inter-Korean Dialogue Appear Unlikely
However, some analysts suggest that Kim’s primary objective in visiting China is to solidify ties with both China and Russia, while keeping potential U.S. dialogue in mind. This focus may limit his interactions with leaders from other countries.
Diplomatic sources also indicate a low likelihood of a trilateral meeting involving North Korea, China, and Russia. China has historically distanced itself from North Korea, which it views as a rogue state, and has shown reluctance to engage in a North Korea–China–Russia alliance. This stance is partly due to new Cold War dynamics that do not align with China’s national interests.
While North Korea’s participation in the multilateral meeting suggests some openness to communication with the participating countries, the chances for meaningful inter-Korean dialogue remain extremely low.
South Korea will be represented by a delegation led by National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik at the Victory Day event. However, given North Korea’s ongoing hostile stance toward certain nations, significant inter-Korean exchanges are unlikely in the near future.
The National Intelligence Service noted that considering the scheduling of state-level contacts, Speaker Woo is set to meet others at a different time. They added that while a chance encounter cannot be ruled out entirely, the likelihood of a meaningful meeting is low.