North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has journeyed to China prior to the scheduled grand military demonstration

In a significant display of international cooperation, world leaders will gather in Beijing on Wednesday, September 25, 2025, for a military parade marking 80 years since the end of World War II. The event, scheduled to showcase China's military prowess, will be attended by more than 25 leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping, and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

Kim Jong Un's appearance in China formalizes the China-Russia-North Korea trilateral relationship to the public. His journey to China aboard an armored train on Tuesday morning follows a meeting with Putin in Russia's far east in 2023 and a withdrawal from the global diplomatic scene after the collapse of a summit with US President Donald Trump in 2019.

The military parade in Beijing caps a week of diplomacy for President Xi Jinping, who hosted a summit in Tianjin. At the Tianjin summit, Xi Jinping criticized "bullying behavior" from certain countries, while a veiled reference was made to the United States. The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), a group of 10 countries, was the focus of the Tianjin summit. The SCO positions itself as a non-Western style of collaboration in the region and aims to be an alternative to traditional alliances.

Rumors suggest that the display at the military parade will include a gigantic laser weapon. Security measures have been increased in Beijing, including road closures, military presence, and white barriers lining the boulevards. Millions of Chinese people were killed during a prolonged war with imperial Japan in the 1930s and 40s, making the commemoration of the end of World War II a poignant event for the Chinese people.

Art installations featuring flowers, doves, and the Great Wall of China have appeared around Beijing, adding to the festive atmosphere. Chinese flags are being flown in residential neighborhoods in Beijing, signifying the national pride and patriotism that the event is expected to evoke.

However, not all leaders are attending the parade. The available sources do not provide a list of other invited leaders from countries not already cited. Putin defended Russia's Ukraine offensive during the Tianjin summit, blaming the West for triggering the conflict. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, who also attended the Tianjin summit, will join Xi Jinping, Kim Jong Un, and several other leaders for the parade in Beijing.

Kim Jong Un stayed in North Korea throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. His reemergence on the international stage underscores the importance of the Beijing military parade as a symbol of regional unity and cooperation. The event is expected to be a historic moment, bringing together world leaders to honour the past and look towards the future.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has journeyed to China prior to the scheduled grand military demonstration