Kim Jong Un set for first major international appearance
Quick Read
North Korea’s Kim Jong Un is set to join world leaders in Beijing on September 3, as China rolls out its biggest military parade in years to mark the 80th anniversary of its war against Japan and the end of World War Two.
North Korea’s Kim Jong Un is set to join world leaders in Beijing on September 3, as China rolls out its biggest military parade in years to mark the 80th anniversary of its war against Japan and the end of World War Two.
China’s foreign ministry confirmed the visit on Thursday, describing it as a “historic occasion.” For Kim, it will be his first major international appearance on such a global stage.
The parade, dubbed “Victory Day,” will also host Russia’s President Vladimir Putin alongside 25 other heads of state, turning Tiananmen Square into a theatre of military muscle and political messaging.
Beijing is expected to unleash an arsenal of its latest weaponry from tanks to hundreds of aircraft and new anti-drone systems — marking the first public display of China’s revamped force structure.
Tens of thousands of soldiers will march in tight formations, joined by veterans and 45 military echelons, in a 70-minute spectacle overseen by President Xi Jinping himself.
With the West already on edge over China’s expanding military ambitions, analysts say all eyes will be glued to Beijing come Tuesday — watching not just the tanks and planes, but the power blocs forming in real time
Comments