Kim Jong Un, the leader of North Korea, will participate in a military parade in Beijing next week.
North Korea Joins Global Leaders at Beijing's Military Parade
North Korea has made a notable appearance on the international stage, sending troops and artillery to support Russia in its ongoing conflict with Ukraine. This move comes as North Korean leader Kim Jong Un prepares for a rare international visit next week, set to attend a military parade in Beijing.
The military parade, scheduled for September 3, marks the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. China will showcase some of its most advanced weaponry at the event, joining a list of heads of state and government from 26 countries in attendance, including Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Other notable attendees include Belarus President Alexander Lukaschenko, Iran's President Massud Peseschkian, Indonesia's President Prabowo Subianto, and South Korea's Parliament Speaker Woo Won-shik. Kim Jong Un's visit to China follows a period of isolation for the North Korean leader due to international sanctions over his country's nuclear and ballistic missile programs.
Kim Jong Un's visit to China comes after a long-awaited meeting with Putin at a spaceport in Russia's Far East last September. However, the details of his travel, including his departure date, duration of stay, and any potential meetings with Xi, Putin, or other leaders, have yet to be disclosed by North Korea's state news agency KCNA.
The growing partnership between North Korea and Russia has strained China-North Korea ties, with China being North Korea's economic lifeline, accounting for about 98% of its external trade last year. Reports suggest that Russia may be providing advanced military technology to North Korea in exchange for its support.
In a surprising turn of events, North Korea has dismissed the idea of denuclearization, stating that Trump must accept it as a nuclear state. This stance contrasts with Trump's expressed interest in reviving denuclearization talks with North Korea, which broke down in 2019.
As the world watches, Kim Jong Un's visit to China and North Korea's involvement in the military parade serve as reminders of the complex web of international relations and the ongoing geopolitical shifts in the East Asian region.
Jennifer Jett reported from Hong Kong, and Stella Kim from Los Angeles.
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