North Korean leader Kim Jong Un arrived in Beijing on Tuesday aboard his signature olive-green armoured train, ahead of a major military parade commemorating the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II.
His arrival, confirmed by both AFP reporters and South Korea’s Yonhap News Agency, marks only his second known trip abroad in six years.
The visit signals deepening ties among North Korea, China, and Russia, as Kim is set to appear alongside Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and leaders from over two dozen other countries.
The parade, scheduled for Wednesday at Tiananmen Square, will showcase China’s military strength through grand displays, including flyovers, precision marching, and advanced weaponry.
While specific systems remain undisclosed, observers have already spotted rumored new technology, such as a gigantic laser weapon.
Kim’s appearance at this high-profile event highlights what analysts see as a formal public alignment between Beijing, Moscow, and Pyongyang.
“Kim’s presence signals a growing trilateral partnership among these nations,” said Soo Kim, a former CIA analyst, speaking to AFP.
Photos released by North Korea’s KCNA showed Kim during the journey, smoking outside his train with top aides and smiling inside a lavish, wood-paneled carriage adorned with national symbols.
Beijing has undergone heightened security in preparation for the celebration.
Streets are lined with military personnel, white barricades, and patriotic art installations bearing the inscription “1945–2025.” Chinese flags flutter across neighborhoods, while parts of the city remain closed to the public.
The event wraps up a week of intense diplomacy for Xi, who hosted leaders of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in Tianjin earlier this week.
The summit, attended by Putin and other Eurasian leaders, underscored China’s push to build non-Western alliances and challenge U.S. influence.
At the summit, Xi condemned global “bullying”, a veiled criticism of the U.S, while Putin reiterated support for Russia’s actions in Ukraine, blaming Western powers for the conflict.
Many of the SCO leaders, including Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, are expected to join Xi and Kim at the Wednesday parade.
