In preparation for his international diplomatic debut, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un arrived in Beijing in a special armored train. He will be attending China’s impending military parade, which will be attended by dozens of state leaders. Nearly a day after leaving Pyongyang, the train pulled into Beijing Railway Station at approximately 4 p.m. (local time), with Kim in the company of Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui and other officials. A motorcade with the North Korean flag left the station after a train bearing the flag was spotted in Beijing.
Seoul’s National Intelligence Service (NIS) later verified that Kim left Pyongyang on a special train to Beijing the day before and entered China at sunrise. In honor of the 80th anniversary of Japan’s surrender and the “victory” that ended World War II, Chinese President Xi Jinping will lead a military parade in Tiananmen Square on Wednesday, which will be attended by dozens of international leaders, including Kim and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Kim will march “side by side” with Xi and Putin during Wednesday’s military parade. On the sidelines, it also suggested that Kim might host separate summits with both leaders. According to Russian media, Putin will sit on Xi’s right, while Kim will sit on his left. By showing up shoulder to shoulder, the three leaders would send a powerful message to the world about their growing trilateral solidarity.
