North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is traveling to Beijing for a North Korea China Russia summit with Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin to commemorate a WWII victory anniversary and strengthen ties.
“Kim Jong Un… left here for Beijing by his private train on Sept. 1,” said Kim Chon-il, a director at the North Korean foreign ministry. He is set to participate in celebrations of the 80th anniversary of the Chinese victory over Japan.
Details on Kim Jong Un’s Armored Train to China
The 41-year-old leader is making the 1,300-kilometer journey aboard his armored train, the Taeyangho. The trip to Beijing is expected to last approximately 20 hours, a continuation of a family tradition of rail travel.
The bulletproof train travels at around 60 kilometers per hour and typically consists of 10 to 15 carriages. These can include conference rooms, bedrooms, and dedicated cars for security personnel and medical staff.
High-Stakes North Korea China Russia Summit
Kim is expected to arrive in Beijing on Tuesday for his first visit since 2019. The visit aims to bolster a potential North Korea China Russia alliance amid heightened global tensions.
This meeting follows two previous meetings between Kim and Russian President Vladimir Putin since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Pyongyang is seeking to deepen its relationships with both Beijing and Moscow.
Kim Xi Putin Beijing Military Parade
The leaders are scheduled to attend a 70-minute military parade through Tiananmen Square. The event will feature thousands of troops and a display of China’s latest weaponry.
The parade commemorates the 80th anniversary of Japan’s surrender in World War II. It is designed to showcase Beijing’s military power.
Geopolitical Context and Regional Response
The summit comes shortly after South Korean President Lee Jae Myung met with Donald Trump in the United States. That meeting focused on trilateral cooperation to counter North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs.
