▲ These photos (from L to R) of Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un are published by Xinhua News Agency, Tass and the Korean Central News Agency, respectively. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)

NK leader-military parade

N. Korea's Kim set to join Putin, Xi at military parade in defiance against West

By Park Boram

BEIJING/SEOUL, Sept. 3 (Yonhap) -- North Korean leader Kim Jong-un was set to attend a military parade in Beijing on Wednesday alongside Russia's Vladimir Putin and China's Xi Jinping, marking his debut on the multilateral diplomatic stage in a display of defiance against the West.

Kim arrived in Beijing the previous day aboard his private armored train, accompanied by his young daughter, Ju-ae, who has been regarded by South Korea's spy agency as his likely heir apparent.

Kim, Putin and Xi are expected to take center stage at the military parade, standing side by side among dozens of state leaders in a historic display of trilateral solidarity.

The military parade was scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. (local time) at Tiananmen Square, marking the 80th anniversary of what China celebrates as its victory over Japan and the end of World War II, and featuring displays of its latest weaponry and marching troops.

According to the Kremlin and Seoul's spy agency, Kim will be seated to Xi's left and Putin to Xi's right during the parade, and Kim may hold separate summits with both leaders on the sidelines.

It marks the first time for Kim, Xi and Putin to come together at the same venue, and the first joint meeting of North Korean, Chinese and Russian leaders in 66 years.

The rare occasion could symbolize China, Russia and North Korea's trilateral alignment vis a vis the United States-led unipolar order, as well as the U.S.' trilateral security cooperation with South Korea and Japan.

The moment will also serve as Kim's debut on the multilateral diplomatic stage. He has so far held only bilateral summits and has not appeared at any international diplomatic gatherings.

From South Korea, National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik is attending, with attention on whether he will secure a rare meeting with Kim, even if only briefly.

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