SEOUL, September 29 (AJP) - Speculation is cautiously building up over the possibility of Chinese President Xi Jinping making a ceremonial appearance at a military parade in Pyongyang next month, timed with the 80th anniversary of North Korea's Workers' Party. Such a trip would be seen as a reciprocal gesture after Kim Jong-un's train journey to Beijing earlier this month to attend China's "Victory Day" military extravaganza, as foreign ministers from the two countries held talks in Beijing.
North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui met Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Beijing on Sunday, shortly after their encounter during Kim’s visit.
The two sides reached "complete agreement" on regional and international issues, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported Monday, without elaboration.
Choe praised China’s growing global stature, citing Beijing's "Victory Day" celebrations as proof of its "historic achievements and comprehensive strength." She reiterated Kim’s view that the two countries' friendship "will never change regardless of international circumstances."
Wang hailed Choe's visit as the first senior-level delegation to arrive in Beijing after the September summit, noting that "The Xi-Kim summit set out the direction and a blueprint for taking China–North Korea relations to a new, higher stage." It was also Choe's first solo trip to China since becoming foreign minister in June 2022.
Given the renewed warmth, Beijing is expected to send a high-profile delegation to the Oct. 10 anniversary. If Xi attends, it would be his first visit to North Korea since 2019.
Still, many analysts say the timing makes a Xi appearance unlikely.
"With major domestic political meetings and the APEC summit ahead, October is not the right time for Xi to make a trip to Pyongyang," said Lee Dong-gyu, a research fellow at the Asan Institute for Policy Studies.
Jung Byoung-kon, a senior research fellow at the Korea Institute for National Unification, agreed: "While such a trip would be welcomed by Pyongyang, it risks reinforcing a new Cold War alignment, which is not in China's long-term national interest."
Xi is expected to visit Gyeongju, South Korea, for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit on Oct. 31-Nov. 1, with Beijing and Washington signaling plans for the first in-person Xi-Trump meeting of U.S. President Donald Trump's second term.
With or without Xi, Pyongyang is preparing a spectacular Oct. 10 celebration. North Korea typically marks major milestones—especially every five or ten years—with large-scale events, including military parades and mass performances.
Satellite imagery analyzed by Seoul-based SI Analytics shows North Korea has been preparing for one of its largest-ever military parades at Mirim Airfield in Pyongyang, involving at least 14,000 personnel and some 700 trucks. Preparations have lasted more than five months—far longer than the usual two to three—suggesting a scale surpassing the 2023 parade. The report said new weapons, possibly including the Hwasong-20 intercontinental ballistic missile and AI-enabled drones, could be unveiled, alongside mass gymnastics performances.
reporter
Cheon Soram
cheons@ajupress.com
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