The Chinese dragon will welcome two of its most controversial allies next week, as North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin attend a grand parade in Beijing. The event on Wednesday, hosted by President Xi Jinping, will mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II.
The parade’s guest list is a reflection of today’s divided world. Leaders from Western democracies are staying away in a coordinated snub aimed at Putin over the Ukraine conflict, effectively turning the celebration into an exclusive club of anti-Western nations.
Kim’s visit is a strategic pilgrimage, his first to China since 2019. Its primary purpose is to reinforce his country’s bond with its economic lifeline, China, which accounts for nearly all of North Korea’s trade.
The image of the three leaders standing together will be a powerful symbol of a consolidating alliance. It comes as Pyongyang actively supports Moscow’s war effort, making the Beijing parade a formal presentation of this growing strategic partnership.
