North Korean leader Kim Jong Un arrives in Beijing [Beijing Xinhua Yonhap News. Resale and DB prohibited]

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un arrived in Beijing on the 2nd for the first time in six years and eight months to attend China's "Victory Day military parade." Kim was accompanied by his daughter, Ju Ae, on this, his fifth visit to China.

The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) cited the Foreign Ministry's press bureau in reporting that the special train carrying Chairman Kim arrived in Beijing, the Chinese capital, at approximately 4:00 p.m. local time (5:00 p.m. KST). China’s Xinhua News Agency subsequently confirmed the news of Kim's arrival in Beijing.

Earlier, Yonhap News and various foreign media outlets reported on the visit as Kim's train entered Beijing Station. North Korean and Chinese state media officially confirmed the visit four and five hours later, respectively.

Upon disembarking from the train, which displayed the North Korean flag, Chairman Kim was greeted by Chinese officials.

Key officials, including Cai Qi, a member of the Politburo Standing Committee of the Communist Party of China (ranked 5th in official order) and First Secretary of the Central Secretariat; Wang Yi, Director of the Office of the Central Foreign Affairs Commission (concurrently serving as Foreign Minister); and Yin Yong, Secretary of the Beijing Municipal Committee of the CPC, were present to welcome him. Kim walked with them along the red carpet laid out at Beijing Station.

Meeting with the Chinese officials, Chairman Kim stated, "I am pleased to visit the People's Republic of China again after six years." He also expressed his gratitude for the hospitality shown by President Xi Jinping, as well as the Party, government, and people of China.

North Korea's Kim Jong Un arrives in Beijing... Daughter Ju Ae also accompanies him (Pyongyang KCNA=Yonhap News) The North Korean KCNA reported on the evening of the 2nd that "the press bureau of the Foreign Ministry of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea reported that Comrade Kim Jong Un arrived in Beijing, the capital of the People's Republic of China, at 16:00 local time on September 2nd." Photos released by the agency show that the leader's daughter, Ju Ae, accompanied him. 2025.9.2 nkphoto@yna.co.kr

While the article did not explicitly mention whether his wife, Ri Sol Ju, or his sister, Kim Yo Jong, Vice Department Director of the Workers' Party, were part of the entourage, photos released by the agency show his daughter, Ju Ae, following behind him.

Other photos released by the agency show Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui and Kim Song Nam, Director of the International Department of the Workers' Party, appearing to be on board the office carriage of Chairman Kim's private train.

This marks Chairman Kim's fifth visit to China since he took power following the death of his father, Chairman Kim Jong Il, in December 2011. This visit comes six years and eight months after his most recent one in January 2019.

At the invitation of President Xi, Kim is scheduled to attend the ceremony for the "80th Anniversary of the Victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War" at Tiananmen Square in Beijing on the 3rd, alongside leaders such as Russian President Vladimir Putin.

This will be the first time since the end of the Cold War that the leaders of North Korea, China, and Russia have met in one place. Furthermore, by attending this event, Chairman Kim will make his debut on the multilateral diplomatic stage rather than through bilateral diplomacy.

'Kim Jong Un's visit' Motorcade with North Korean flags (Beijing Kyodo=Yonhap News) Amid reports that North Korean Chairman Kim Jong Un has arrived in Beijing, China, to attend the Victory Day military parade, a motorcade flying North Korean flags is seen passing through Beijing on the 2nd. 2025.9.2 photo@yna.co.kr

While interest is focused on whether Chairman Kim will hold talks with President Xi or President Putin, TASS reported that Yury Ushakov, the Kremlin's foreign policy aide, believes that Chairman Kim and President Putin will continue to have "bilateral-level" discussions.

President Xi held meetings with various world leaders on this day, including President Putin and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian; however, there have been no reports yet regarding a meeting with Chairman Kim.

If the leaders of North Korea, China, and Russia hold the first-ever trilateral summit, it is expected to underscore the "North Korea-China-Russia vs. South Korea-US-Japan" alignment.

However, the probability of such an event is considered low. It is reported that South Korea's National Intelligence Service assesses that a trilateral summit is unlikely.

This year's military parade is the first in six years since 2019, and China is expected to showcase its advanced weaponry to the world while demonstrating its power as the "leader" of anti-Western forces to the United States and the international community.

Meanwhile, Woo Won-shik, Speaker of the National Assembly of South Korea—the second-highest official in the protocol order—arrived in Beijing this afternoon to attend the parade. Regarding the possibility of an encounter with Chairman Kim, he stated, "I am not sure if such an opportunity will arise; I will know once I am at the venue," adding, "If we do meet, we would discuss issues regarding peace on the Korean Peninsula."

Xi Jinping, Putin, Kim Jong Un [AP=Yonhap News file photo. Resale and DB prohibited] [Screen capture from Choseon Central TV. For use only in the Republic of Korea. No redistribution]

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