North Korea's Kim Jong Un arrives in Beijing… 'Attending military parade' Meetings with Xi Jinping and Putin 'in focus' [Comprehensive]

It was confirmed that the train carrying Kim Jong Un, chairman of North Korea's State Affairs Commission, arrived in Beijing, China on the 2nd.

On the 2nd, Yonhap and foreign media reported that Kim's special train, which set out on his '5th visit to China,' arrived at Beijing Station around 4 p.m. local time (5 p.m. Korea time).

Reuters reported that Kim's special armored train was spotted arriving in Beijing, and AFP reported that a train believed to be carrying Kim was seen entering Beijing Station by one of its reporters.

Reuters said the observed special train bore the North Korean national flag, and that immediately after the train was spotted, a motorcade of vehicles bearing the national flag was also seen leaving Beijing Station.

Earlier, the National Intelligence Service explained that "Chairman Kim departed Pyongyang on the 1st by special train, crossed the border at dawn today, and is scheduled to arrive in Beijing this afternoon to carry out his visit schedule."

This is Kim's 5th visit to China, and it was made to attend the "80th anniversary military parade of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War Victory (Victory Day)" to be held on the 3rd.

It is unusual for North Korea to disclose the overseas travel of its supreme leader immediately after departure.

Kim is expected to attend the parade at Beijing's Tiananmen Square and stand side by side to observe with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

It would be the first time leaders of North Korea, China and Russia have met together since the end of the Cold War, and attention is focused on whether Kim will immediately hold talks with President Xi or President Putin that day.

Going a step further, there is talk of the possibility that the North Korea–China–Russia leaders could for the first time hold a trilateral meeting, in which case a 'North Korea–China–Russia vs. South Korea–U.S.–Japan' alignment could be highlighted.

Meanwhile, this year's parade will be held for the first time in six years since 2019, and China appears likely to showcase advanced weapons externally and demonstrate its power as the 'leader' of anti-Western forces to the United States and the rest of the world.

From South Korea, Woo Won-sik, the Speaker of the National Assembly who is second in protocol, will attend.

Woo said as he departed for China through Incheon International Airport that day, regarding the possibility of encountering Chairman Kim, "I'm not sure whether there will be such an (encounter) opportunity; I'll have to see when I'm there," and added, "If we meet, we will discuss issues related to peace on the Korean Peninsula."

Lee Bo-bae, guest reporter, Hankyung.com newsinfo@hankyung.com