SEOUL, September 01 (AJP) - North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is expected to leave Pyongyang by train on Monday and arrive in Beijing the following day to attend a military parade as part of China's "Victory Day" celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II.
According to multiple government sources on Sunday, Kim is likely to depart Pyongyang on Monday with a special armored train, which takes about 20 to 24 hours to reach the Chinese capital. A Monday departure would allow him to arrive in Beijing on Tuesday, one day before the parade.
Koo Byung-sam, spokesperson for South Korea's Ministry of Unification, said, "The specifics of Kim Jong-un's itinerary in China have not yet been confirmed," adding that the government is "closely monitoring related developments."
Kim has visited China four times before. He traveled by train for his first trip in March 2018 and again in January 2019, while flying on his personal aircraft for visits in May and June 2018. However, the aging plane has not been seen in recent years, fueling speculation he will once again rely on rail transport.
The armored train offers greater security, equipped with bulletproof windows and infrared coating to reduce satellite detection, though its weight limits the train's maximum speed to about 80 kilometers per hour.
Security measures in Dandong, the Chinese border city with North Korea, have also been tightened, and train services to Beijing temporarily suspended, further suggesting rail travel.
Kim is expected to stay at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse, the Chinese government’s official reception venue for visiting leaders, where he lodged during all three of his previous visits to Beijing.
Pyongyang confirmed last week that Kim will attend the parade, which would be his first appearance on a multilateral diplomatic stage since assuming power in late 2011. Until now, he has held only bilateral summits during his visits to China and Russia.
With Russian President Vladimir Putin also set to attend the parade, speculation is mounting over a possible trilateral meeting among Kim, Putin and Xi.
Analysts are also watching whether Kim's China trip could pave the way for dialogue with the U.S., as he has a record of meeting with Xi ahead of engaging Washington.
In both 2018 and 2019, Kim met Xi shortly before holding summits with then-U.S. President Donald Trump in Singapore and Hanoi, fueling speculation that Pyongyang is again seeking political leverage from Beijing before any future talks with Washington.
reporter
Cheon Soram
cheons@ajupress.com
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