BEIJING, 29 August 2025 – North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is set to make his first official visit to China in over six years to attend a high-profile military parade in Tiananmen Square on 3 September, commemorating the 80th anniversary of Japan’s World War II defeat. His appearance alongside President Xi Jinping and President Vladimir Putin—a rare trilateral display—has sparked speculation among analysts that Beijing and Pyongyang are signaling deeper strategic alignment in a show of defiance to mounting U.S. pressure.
Significance of the Trilateral Appearance
According to observers, the gathering of these three leaders is much more than ceremonial—it’s a political declaration. Notably, this is the first time Kim will take part in a multilateral event with other heads of state, marking a shift from prior isolated bilateral diplomacy.
Lu Chao, a professor specializing in Northeast Asian affairs at Liaoning University, emphasises that Kim’s visit “highlights a mutual commitment to reaffirm and strengthen China–North Korea relations.”
Escalating Strategic Dynamics
The geopolitical undercurrents of this event are just as significant. Kim’s participation alongside Putin reinforces a burgeoning alignment, where North Korea has deepened military collaboration and arms support to Russia, while China has quietly revived ties with Pyongyang.
This rising coherence among Beijing, Moscow, and Pyongyang can be seen as a countermove to the expanding U.S.–South Korea–Japan security collaboration—raising stakes in the regional power game.
Why Now?
Kim’s visit serves not only to reaffirm regional alliances but potentially to enhance his diplomatic standing ahead of renewed talks with the U.S., a strategy previously used before his meetings with former President Trump.
For China, this marks a visible consolidation of influence within its strategic sphere and a reaffirmation of historic ties with North Korea—its only formal defense ally since 1961. Though ties dipped over nuclear tensions, recent economic and diplomatic cooperation suggests a thaw.
