Putin, Xi Jinping, and Kim Jong Un walking side-by-side towards the parade grounds. EPA=Yonhap News. 

Reuters reported that conversations between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin, who showcased their friendship at a military parade in Beijing on the 3rd, were captured by a "hot mic" discussing topics such as organ transplants and immortality.

A "hot mic" refers to a situation where celebrities inadvertently speak privately or joke, unaware that the microphone is on, leading to their remarks being unintentionally revealed and causing embarrassment.

These unexpected conversations occurred as Xi and Putin were moving towards the Tiananmen Gate Tower (battlements) with Kim Jong Un, the Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of North Korea, and other leaders from over 20 countries attending the parade.

The scene of the two leaders, along with Kim, leading the group towards the Tiananmen Gate Tower was broadcast live by China Central Television (CCTV), China's state broadcaster.

As they walked towards the tower, Reuters reported that Putin's interpreter could be heard speaking in Chinese, saying, "Biotechnology is constantly advancing."

After a series of unintelligible phrases, Putin's interpreter stated, "Human organs can be continuously transplanted. The longer you live, the younger you become, and you can even achieve immortality."

In response, Xi, who was off-camera, replied in Chinese, "Some predict that humans will be able to live up to 150 years old in this century."

At this moment, Kim smiled and looked towards Xi and Putin, but it is unclear whether the conversation was translated for him, and Reuters explained that Putin's Russian remarks were also not clearly audible in the CCTV footage.

Reuters added that the moment Xi began speaking, the camera shifted to Tiananmen Square, and the audio in the video became faint. After about 30 seconds, Xi, Putin, and Kim reappeared on camera, ascending the stairs leading to the tower to watch the parade.

The Russian government, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and CCTV did not immediately respond to Reuters' requests for comment regarding the leaders' conversation.

Xi and Putin are both currently 72 years old. Xi was born in June 1953, and Putin was born in October 1952.

Xi has been in power for 13 years, serving three consecutive terms since 2012, while Putin, who came to power in 2000, has secured a fifth term in 2024, reigning as a modern-day 'Tsar'.

Hankook Ilbo·Yonhap News