Putin, Kim Jong Un to Attend Beijing's Military Parade in Show of Unity
By Global Leaders Insights Team | Aug 28, 2025
Presidents of Russian Vladimir Putin and North Korea Kim Jong Un will attend a giant military display in Beijing on September 3 alongside Chinese President Xi Jinping.
The day marks the 80th anniversary of the surrender of Japan during the World War II and sends a strong message of unity between the three leaders as tension between Japan and the West rises.
The parade, dubbed as the Victory Day, will feature the latest military technologies of China, such as fighter jet, hypersonic missiles, and high-tech defense systems, boasting the power of the local armed forces, the People’s Liberation Army.
The Foreign Ministry of china announced the attendance of 26 world leaders, and only the Prime Minister of Slovakia Robert Fico is a Western-aligned country.
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Other attendees are the Belarusian Aleksandr Lukashenko, Iranian, Masoud Pezeshkian, and Indonesian Prabowo Subianto. Absence of key Western leaders is an indication of poor relations, particularly regarding the war that Russia continues in Ukraine and the nuclear program of North Korea. The West has accused China, who is a close ally of both, of sympathising with Russia although it denies the allegations.
The parade in Tiananmen Square will feature over 10,000 troops and 100 aircraft, a bold display of China’s military power. Experts say it’s a chance for China to flex its influence, especially among developing nations, while standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Russia and North Korea, both under heavy sanctions. For Kim, this marks his first trip to China since 2019, reinforcing the deep ties between Beijing and Pyongyang, rooted in a 1961 defense treaty. Russia’s recent defense agreement with North Korea has also raised eyebrows in the West.
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Chinese official Hong Lei called the China-North Korea relationship a “traditional friendship,” promising ongoing cooperation for regional peace. The parade comes at a time of shifting global dynamics, with U.S. President Donald Trump hinting at a possible meeting with Kim. As China showcases its military and diplomatic clout, the event highlights its growing role in global affairs, amid ongoing disputes over Taiwan and the South China Sea.
