North Korean leader Kim Jong Un travels to Beijing for a joint military display alongside Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping

Kim Jong Un, the North Korean leader, is attending a military parade in Beijing on Wednesday, marking his first major multilateral event during his 14-year rule. Alongside him, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping will join the historic gathering.

The three leaders are expected to stand on the rostrum at Tiananmen Square during the parade, with speculation that Kim Jong Un may also hold bilateral meetings with the Chinese and Russian leaders. This comes at a time when US President Donald Trump and the new liberal South Korean President Lee Jae Myung have expressed hopes to restart talks with North Korea.

North Korea's recent diplomatic moves have been focused on expanding its nuclear and missile arsenals, shunning talks with the US and South Korea since Kim's earlier round of diplomacy with Trump collapsed in 2019. In recent years, North Korea has tested various versions of ICBMs capable of reaching the US mainland, with the "next-generation" ICBM likely referring to a long-range weapon with multiple nuclear warheads that can defeat US missile defense systems.

Kim Jong Un's delegation includes his young daughter, Kim Ju Ae, who is approximately 13 years old and has been frequently accompanying him on major events. This visit to China is Kim Jong Un's first since 2019.

Putin arrived in China on Sunday to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation and the Beijing parade. Relations between China and Russia have deepened in recent years, particularly after the Russian invasion of Ukraine in early 2022.

Before departing for China, Kim Jong Un visited a North Korean missile research institute to review progress on developing a new engine for a "next-generation" intercontinental ballistic missile.

North Korea has also been vocal in international affairs beyond the Korean Peninsula, issuing diplomatic statements on conflicts such as those in the Middle East and the Taiwan Strait. Meanwhile, Putin has expressed hope to meet Trump.

In addition, North Korea has sent around 15,000 troops to Russia since last year, with approximately 2000 reportedly dying in combat. This military cooperation between the two nations is not the first time Kim Jong Un has sought to develop partnerships with nations close to China and Russia.

The possible trilateral meeting between Kim Jong Un, Xi Jinping, and Vladimir Putin is a significant development in the geopolitical landscape, and its implications will be closely watched by the international community.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un travels to Beijing for a joint military display alongside Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping