박보람
| 2025-09-03 20:13:55
(ROUNDUP) NK leader-military parade
(ROUNDUP) Kim joins Putin, Xi at military parade, in display of defiance against West
(ATTN: UPDATES with details, photo)
By Park Boram
BEIJING/SEOUL, Sept. 3 (Yonhap) -- North Korean leader Kim Jong-un stood shoulder to shoulder with Russia's Vladimir Putin and China's Xi Jinping at center stage at a military parade in Beijing on Wednesday, marking the first such meeting among leaders of Pyongyang, Moscow and Beijing in 66 years.
The spectacle of Kim standing with Putin and Xi at the viewing gallery of Tiananmen Square marks a major display of their trilateral solidarity in defiance of the West, led by the United States.
Wearing a black business suit and a gold-colored tie, Kim joined Xi and Putin on the center stage at the rostrum for top-level guests as the parade kicked off with elaborate ceremonies at Tiananmen Square -- a historic moment showcasing solidarity among China, Russia and North Korea.
Putin was seated on Xi's right and Kim on his left, with Xi occasionally turning toward Kim to talk, their bodies angled toward each other.
Earlier, Xi welcomed him into the square, shaking hands with him alongside other state leaders arriving at the venue, including Putin, before moving toward the rostrum.
Xi spent more time greeting Kim and Putin, lightly touching their arms in a show of closeness.
The three leaders again walked side by side along the red-carpeted path to the rostrum, occasionally smiling as they talked before shaking hands one by one with Chinese veterans.
After the parade, the three leaders attended a reception at the nearby Great Hall of the People, appearing together once again.
It marks the first time leaders of the three socialist countries have come together in 66 years, since North Korean founder Kim Il-sung, Chinese founder Mao Zedong and former Soviet Union Prime Minister Nikita Khrushchev jointly attended a similar military parade in 1959 at the square.
It's also the first gathering of Kim, Xi and Putin -- three leaders known for their defiance of the United States -- in what would be a strong signal to the world about their trilateral solidarity vis a vis the U.S.-led unipolar world order.
The rare meeting highlights China's emerging hegemonic ambitions challenging the U.S., underscoring that Beijing is the only country capable of influencing both Pyongyang and Moscow at a time when U.S. President Donald Trump is seeking engagement with Kim and Putin.
Wednesday's parade also emphasized the growing alignment of North Korea, China and Russia in opposition to the trilateral cooperation among Seoul, Washington and Tokyo, at a time when Washington is pushing to "modernize" its alliances to build a united front to counter China.
Some see the military parade as a key moment signaling the start of a "new Cold War."
In a speech at the parade, Xi said that the Chinese people's rejuvenation is "unstoppable," adding that humanity is once again faced with a choice between war or peace.
He said the Chinese people will adhere to the path of peaceful development and build a community with a shared future with the rest of the world, as China showcased its military strength at the parade, including its latest weaponry and well-drilled troops.
The military parade marks the 80th anniversary of what China celebrates as its victory over Japan and the end of World War II.
U.S. President Donald Trump described the parade as Kim, Putin and Xi conspiring against Washington, writing a message on his social media account addressed to Xi: "Please give my warmest regards to Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un, as you conspire against the United States of America."
It also marks a historic moment for Kim, whose presence represents his first appearance at an international event, effectively debuting on the multilateral diplomatic stage.
His rare decision to attend the Chinese military parade is widely seen as an effort to restore traditionally close ties with China and shed his long-standing pariah image.
With bilateral summits and the signing of a mutual defense treaty last year, Kim and Putin have rapidly deepened military ties in recent years, prompting Pyongyang to deploy troops and weapons to support Moscow's war against Ukraine and straining its ties with Beijing.
Once the Russia-Ukraine war comes to an end, Moscow's focus could shift westward, away from Pyongyang, along with its economic assistance, increasing Kim's need to turn back to China as the main supplier of diplomatic and economic support to North Korea.
South Korea's National Intelligence Service (NIS) assessed that Kim's trip is aimed at "expanding his room to maneuver by restoring North Korea-China relations and securing China's economic assistance to buoy his regime."
Some also suggest that Kim may be seeking to recover relations with China in a bid to leverage them to strengthen his bargaining position ahead of a potential resumption of negotiations with the U.S.
National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik attended the parade on behalf of President Lee Jae Myung. Woo said he exchanged "handshakes" with Kim before the parade.
Following the reception, Kim held a summit with Putin at a Chinese state guest house, where he said he will take it as a "brotherly duty" to do whatever he could for Russia.
Putin said he will never forget the North Korean soldiers who fought for Russia, while Kim thanked him for praising his troops and pledged to strengthen bilateral ties.
Putin was also reported to have invited Kim to visit Russia again.
Aboard his private armored train, Kim arrived in Beijing the previous day, accompanied by his daughter, Ju-ae, reported to be his heir apparent, on a trip that took nearly a day.
Photos of Wednesday's event also showed that Kim Yo-jong, the powerful sister of the leader, was also part of his entourage during the visit.
Also in the spotlight was the license plate of the black Maybach sedan he rode in Beijing. Shortly after arriving in Beijing on Tuesday, Kim headed to the North Korean Embassy in the city in a Maybach bearing the number plate 7·271953.
The number corresponds to July 27, 1953, the date of the Korean War armistice, which North Korea commemorates as its victory over the U.S., possibly symbolizing Kim's defiance of Washington.
(END)
[ⓒ K-VIBE. 무단전재-재배포 금지]