North Korean leader Kim Jong Un left Pyongyang on Monday for China to attend the military parade marking the end of World War II, according to local media reports.
As per Yonhap News, Kim left on a special train and will arrive in Beijing on Tuesday. This would be Kim’s first overseas trip since he last visited Russia for talks with President Putin in 2023.
In Beijing, Kim is expected to watch the parade along with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Yonhap reported that Chinese President Xi Jinping had invited Kim Jong-un, as cited by North Korean state media, according to the Yonhap news agency on August 28.
Kim “will soon visit the People’s Republic of China at the invitation of Xi Jinping to participate in celebrations of the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War,” the North’s Korean Central News Agency said.
Chinese state media Xinhua stated that 26 foreign leaders will attend China’s V-Day commemorations in Beijing. Tens of thousands of military personnel are slated to march in formation through the historic Tiananmen Square and the parade will be survyed by Xi.
China’s Assistant Foreign Minister Hong Lei, addressing a press briefing in Beijing on Thursday, said that China warmly welcomes the North Korean leader, and China and DPRK are traditional friendly neighbours.
