SEOUL, September 03 (AJP) - For the first time in 66 years, the leaders of North Korea, China, and Russia stood side by side as Kim Jong-un joined Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin at China’s "Victory Day" military parade on Wednesday.
The parade, marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, began at 9 a.m. in Beijing's Tiananmen Square. Official photographs showed Xi at the center with his wife, Peng Liyuan, to his left. Kim stood next to Peng, while Putin took position on Xi's right. Kim walked in just ahead of Putin, taking the second-to-last spot in the procession. After a photo, the three leaders walked side by side toward the Tiananmen reviewing stand, presenting a rare image of unity among Beijing, Moscow, and Pyongyang.
Noticeably absent was Kim's daughter Ju-ae, whose presence during her father's arrival in Beijing had drawn widespread attention. Since her first public appearance in November 2022, Ju-ae has frequently appeared at military and political events in North Korea, but this was her first official trip abroad. Analysts say her presence on the international stage signals she may be undergoing early grooming as Kim's successor.
At Beijing station, Ju-ae was seen standing directly behind her father as he was welcomed by senior Chinese officials. According to Cheong Seong-chang, vice president of the Sejong Institute, "Kim's decision to bring her to China strongly suggests he is signaling to the international community that she is his heir, while giving her early diplomatic training."
Cheong said this approach is a marked departure from Kim's own upbringing. Although named heir by his father at the age of eight, Kim Jong-un had little opportunity to engage in foreign affairs before assuming power, leaving him largely isolated until his summit diplomacy in 2018. By introducing Ju-ae early to international settings, Kim appears determined to avoid repeating that experience and to ensure she develops the skills and stature needed for leadership.
Kim left Pyongyang by armored train on Monday and arrived in Beijing the following afternoon. In a rare move, state-run media released both his departure and arrival within hours.
For the parade, Xi wore a Mao-style suit, while Kim broke from his usual attire, opting instead for a black Western suit with a bright gold tie, a choice some interpreted as an effort to project the image of "normal state." The trip was Kim's first visit to China since January 2019 and his first appearance on a multilateral diplomatic stage since assuming power in late 2011.
The parade is widely seen as underscoring a broader geopolitical divide, placing China, North Korea, and Russia on one side against Japan, South Korea, and the U.S., amid intensifying U.S.-China rivalry.
Speculation is also mounting over a possible trilateral meeting among Kim, Putin, and Xi, given the rare occasion of them appearing together, though observers say bilateral talks are more likely.
reporter
Cheon Soram
cheons@ajupress.com
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.
View more comments