North Korea’s state-run newspaper Rodong Sinmun reported on Thursday that Kim Jong Un, General Secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea, attended the 80th anniversary celebration of China’s victory in the anti-Japanese war and met with Russian President Vladimir Putin. This appears to be an effort to inform North Korean citizens that Kim attended his first multilateral event, further solidifying the triangular alliance between North Korea, China, and Russia.
The newspaper stated that Comrade Kim participated in the 80th anniversary celebration of the victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, which was held on Wednesday in Beijing, the capital of the People’s Republic of China.
It described how Kim warmly greeted Chinese President Xi Jinping upon arriving at the celebration venue and engaged in conversation as they ascended the podium in Tiananmen Square. The report also noted that Kim received warm congratulations from Chinese veterans who had participated in the anti-Japanese war.
Following the celebration, the newspaper reported that Kim attended a commemorative banquet alongside leaders from various countries and enjoyed a welcoming performance by Chinese artists.
Furthermore, the newspaper revealed that after the banquet, Kim and President Putin held talks at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse. Key Russian officials present included Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Defense Minister Andrei Belousov, Kremlin foreign policy advisor Yuri Ushakov, and Minister of Natural Resources Alexander Kozlov. During the meeting, President Putin praised the heroism of North Korean troops deployed in Russia, stating that it will never forget the sacrifices made by the Korean army. He described the North Korea-Russia relationship as a special trust relationship, a friendly relationship, and an alliance.
In response, Kim expressed deep gratitude and emphasized that he would continue to fully support Russia, considering it a fraternal duty.
The newspaper noted that the two leaders discussed prospective cooperation plans in detail, exchanging candid views on important international and regional issues, although specific details were not disclosed.
The report added that the meeting took place in a consistently comradely and friendly atmosphere, with Kim and Putin taking a commemorative photo to mark their Beijing meeting and exchanging warm farewells.
On that day, Rodong Sinmun dedicated three out of six pages to Kim’s attendance at the Chinese victory celebration and his meeting with President Putin. A total of 46 related photos were published, showcasing Kim in conversation with President Xi and in an embrace with President Putin, which were shared with North Korean citizens.