According to reports, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has crossed the border into China and is scheduled to attend a military parade in Beijing, the country’s capital. Wednesday’s “Victory Day” march will be Kim’s first multilateral international gathering, when he will mingle with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping, and other world leaders.
On Tuesday, Kim entered China on his armored train, which reportedly has a restaurant with exquisite French wines and fresh lobster among its offerings. According to South Korea’s Yonhap media, which reported that the train crossed into China, his journey is anticipated to take up to 24 hours due to the train’s sluggish speed and extensive security measures.
Kim’s participation marks the first time since 1959 that a North Korean leader has attended a Chinese military parade. He will be present together with 26 other heads of state, including those from Cuba, Iran, and Myanmar.
His presence is a step forward from 2015, when Pyongyang sent Choe Ryong-hae, one of its senior officials, to China’s previous Victory Day celebration. Only Putin, whom he has seen twice since Russia invaded Ukraine, is among the foreign leaders with whom the reclusive leader has recently interacted. In 2019, he made his most recent trip to Beijing for a celebration commemorating the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two nations. He also took the train on the journey.
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