North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un is set to attend China’s Victory Day parade in Beijing next week, marking his first high-level international appearance in years.

The event will also be attended by Russia’s Vladimir Putin and China’s Xi Jinping.

China’s foreign ministry confirmed that Kim will participate in the parade marking the 80th anniversary of China’s victory over Japan and the end of World War Two. His presence upgrades North Korea’s participation compared to 2015, when only top official Choe Ryong-hae attended.

Standing alongside Putin and Xi in Beijing, Kim will make a major diplomatic appearance, signaling Pyongyang’s continued closeness with China. Beijing praised North Korea’s decades-long “traditional friendship” and emphasized ongoing collaboration on regional peace and stability.

China’s military showcase

The parade will feature tens of thousands of military personnel, including troops from 45 echelons and war veterans, marching through Tiananmen Square. China plans to showcase its latest weaponry, from tanks and aircraft to advanced anti-drone systems, revealing the full force structure of its modern military for the first time.

Analysts and Western observers will closely monitor the 70-minute event, which will be surveyed by Xi Jinping. The parade is both a domestic show of strength and a geopolitical signal to the world.

Diplomatic stakes

The timing is significant. US President Donald Trump has expressed interest in meeting Kim, while also seeking a deal with Putin on Ukraine. By hosting Kim and Putin, Xi reinforces China’s central role in regional diplomacy.

The parade also raises questions about South Korea’s potential attendance. President Lee Jae Myung has been invited, which could provide the first opportunity for a meeting with Kim since relations broke down in 2019. However, North Korea has criticized Lee’s engagement efforts, and his presence could carry diplomatic risks.

Most Western leaders are not expected to attend, partly due to tensions with Putin over the Ukraine war, and Japan has reportedly discouraged attendance over “anti-Japanese overtones.”