In a move that functions as a calculated snub to the West, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un will visit Beijing next week during a Western boycott of a major state event. He will attend a military parade on Wednesday that has been shunned by U.S. and European leaders.
The parade, marking the 80th anniversary of WWII’s end, will feature Russian President Vladimir Putin, the cause of the boycott. This creates a unique opportunity for China, Russia, and North Korea to showcase their solidarity without Western interference.
This is Kim’s first trip abroad since 2019, and it is a crucial one for managing his relationship with China, his country’s main benefactor. He is expected to seek reassurances of continued economic and political support.
The timing and context of the visit are highly significant. It allows Kim to publicly align himself with the anti-Western bloc, a move that reinforces his domestic authority and sends a clear message of defiance to his adversaries.