Chinese President Xi Jinping, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, and Russian President Vladimir Putin made a rare joint appearance at the Tiananmen Gate in Beijing on Wednesday morning.
This historic gathering marks the first time in 66 years that the leaders of these three nations have come together in one place, with the previous meeting taking place during the North Korea-China-Soviet summit in Beijing in September 1959.
Dressed in a formal suit rather than his customary Mao suit attire, Kim arrived at the Tiananmen Gate shortly after 8:00 a.m. He exited his official vehicle and walked along the red carpet to enter the venue hosting the 80th anniversary celebration of the victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War.
His daughter, Kim Ju Ae, who had accompanied him to Beijing by private train the previous day, was not present at the parade.
President Xi and First Lady Peng Liyuan greeted each arriving dignitary with handshakes on the red carpet. When it was Kim’s turn, he approached Xi with a warm smile, grasping the Chinese leader’s hand with both of his own in a display of close ties. Xi responded with a broad smile.
Kim was the penultimate leader to shake hands with Xi, with Russian President Vladimir Putin being the last.
For the group photo, Kim stood to Xi’s left, next to First Lady Peng, while Putin took his place on Xi’s right.
After the photo session, Xi, Putin, and Kim ascended the Tiananmen Tower together, with Kim to Xi’s left and Putin to his right.
This unprecedented trilateral meeting holds particular significance. For Putin, it marks his first appearance at a multilateral event since the onset of the Ukraine conflict. For Kim, it represents his debut on the international stage. The gathering further underscores the strengthened ties between Putin and Kim in the wake of the Ukraine war.
The 70-minute ceremony, which commenced at 9:00 a.m., featured Xi’s opening address and a military parade showcasing China’s latest weaponry, including advanced hypersonic missiles—widely seen as a demonstration of military might aimed at the U.S.