North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has left Pyongyang to visit China for a major military parade in Beijing. The event, called “Victory Day,” will take place on Wednesday and will mark 80 years since Japan’s surrender in World War Two.
This will be Kim’s first time joining a large international meeting with other world leaders. He is expected to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and leaders from countries like Iran, Myanmar, Cuba, Indonesia, and Vietnam. Most Western leaders will not attend because of their opposition to Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Kim is traveling to China in his famous armoured train, which is very slow but heavily protected. The train is said to have around 90 carriages, including bedrooms, conference rooms, and even a restaurant that serves luxury food like lobster and fine French wine. The trip from Pyongyang to Beijing is expected to take about 24 hours.
The tradition of traveling by train comes from Kim’s family. His grandfather, Kim Il Sung, and his father, Kim Jong Il, also used special trains for long trips. Kim himself last visited Beijing in 2019 for an anniversary of diplomatic ties.
The parade in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square will last about 70 minutes and include tens of thousands of Chinese soldiers. It will show off China’s newest military technology, including tanks, aircraft, and anti-drone weapons.
Kim’s attendance is important because it is the first time since 1959 that a North Korean leader has joined a Chinese military parade. It also shows closer ties between North Korea, China, and Russia, while much of the Western world remains absent.
-Peace News Desk