▲ A composite image of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (Yonhap)
▲ These photos of (from L) North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin are published by the Korean Central News Agency, Xinhua News Agency and Tass, respectively. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)
▲ North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (R) is seated inside a sedan in Pyongyang, next to Russian President Vlamidir Putin (L), in this file photo published by the Korean Central News Agency on June 20, 2024. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)

(3rd LD) NK leader-China

(3rd LD) N. Korea's Kim expected to depart for China by train on Monday

(ATTN: RECASTS headline, lead; UPDATES throughout with more info, photo)

By Park Boram

SEOUL, Aug. 31 (Yonhap) -- North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is expected to depart Pyongyang for Beijing on Monday aboard his special armored train to attend China's large-scale military parade later this week, sources said Sunday.

The government sources suggested Kim may have to leave as early as Monday to reach Beijing by Tuesday, given the train's travel time of up to 24 hours.

China is scheduled to hold a 70-minute military parade on Wednesday, showcasing its latest weaponry and troops marching to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, which it commemorates as victory over Japan.

Observers predict Kim is more likely to use his forest-green train than "Chammae-1," the private plane Kim reportedly used for long-distance domestic trips in his early years in office, due to the plane's old age.

Kim has visited China four times before. He traveled by train during his first and fourth visits in March 2018 and January 2019, while using his private jet during his visits in May and June 2018.

For his forthcoming visit, he may cross the North Korea-China border Monday night aboard the train and stay at Beijing's Diaoyutai State Guesthouse, where he lodged during three of his previous four visits, observers also predicted.

The military parade will mark Kim's first appearance on the multilateral diplomatic stage, setting the stage for a possible three-way summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

It will be the first time for Kim, who assumed power in late 2011, to attend a multilateral diplomatic event. His grandfather and the North's founder Kim Il-sung attended a military parade in Beijing in 1959.

The decision by Kim to attend China's military parade alongside Putin and Xi was announced days after both South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and U.S. President Donald Trump expressed their eagerness to resume diplomacy with North Korea in their high-stakes summit in Washington.

With Kim attending this week's military parade in Beijing with Putin and Xi, it would send a strong indication that the North Korean leader has no interest in engaging with diplomacy with South Korea or the United States.

Kim and Putin, who had held bilateral summits, have deepened military ties, with Pyongyang sending its troops and weapons to help Moscow's war against Ukraine.

The North's state media showed that Kim finalized his troop deployment decision on Aug. 28 last year.

According to Russian media, Kim, Putin and Xi will attend the military parade at Tiananmen Square in Beijing on Sept. 3.

Citing a Kremlin official, the Russian report said Kim will be seated on Xi's left, while Putin will be seated to the right of Xi.

In a 2023 speech, Kim referred to a "new Cold War" gaining traction and stressed the country's intent for "anti-U.S. solidarity," hinting at diplomatic efforts to balance against the U.S. and its allies.

Experts also assessed that North Korea appears to have chosen Kim's trip to China as part of efforts to mend frayed ties with Beijing in anticipation of the Russia-Ukraine war's conclusion, which could shift Moscow's focus westward.

Since last year, Pyongyang has rapidly aligned with Moscow, sending troops to support Russia in its war against Ukraine, and turning to Russia as its main supplier of rare resources and assistance.

The Pyongyang-Moscow alignment has strained the regime's ties with Beijing, but North Korea and China have recently shown signs of improving relations, with Choe Ryong-hae, chairman of the North's parliamentary standing committee, attending a recent reception hosted by the Chinese Embassy in Pyongyang to celebrate the anniversary.

Analysts also suggest that Kim may have opted to attend the military parade to leverage North Korea's closer relations with China to strengthen its bargaining position ahead of a potential resumption of negotiations with the U.S.

"Kim's trip implies his intent to use it as an opportunity to further strengthen North Korea-China, North Korea-Russia and North Korea-China-Russia solidarity to counter" Western countries at a time all three countries are under their sanctions, said Lim Eul-chul, a professor at Kyungnam University's Institute for Far Eastern Studies.

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