Proving the adage ‘a friend in need is a friend indeed,’ North Korea’s Kim Jong Un will visit his key allies in Beijing next week as his country deepens its ties with Russia. He will attend a military parade on Wednesday marking the 80th anniversary of WWII’s end.
The event, hosted by Xi Jinping and featuring Vladimir Putin, has been boycotted by Western leaders, solidifying the impression of an exclusive club of nations united against the West.
This trip is Kim’s first abroad in several years and is vital for his relationship with China, his main economic backer. The visit is expected to reaffirm the political and economic support that is essential for North Korea.
Kim’s presence is particularly noteworthy given his recent military support for Russia’s war in Ukraine. His appearance alongside both Putin and Xi is a powerful statement of his commitment to this emerging trilateral alliance.