North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has arrived in Beijing, China, accompanied by his daughter, Kim Ju Ae. This visit is primarily for the upcoming “Victory Day” parade scheduled for Wednesday, where he will meet with several world leaders, including China’s President Xi Jinping and Russia’s Vladimir Putin. This event marks Kim’s first multilateral meeting.
Kim traveled to China on his armored train, which reportedly includes a restaurant that serves French cuisine. Photographs showed him disembarking from the train at Beijing Railway Station, along with his daughter, who South Korea’s intelligence agency has speculated could be his potential successor.
Since her public debut in November 2022, Kim Ju Ae has frequently appeared alongside her father, although there is limited information about her. Conflicting reports suggest she may be around 10 years old, as stated by South Korea’s National Intelligence Service.
Upon his arrival, Kim was welcomed by several high-ranking members of the Chinese Communist Party, including Foreign Minister Wang Yi. The reception was described as warm, and Kim expressed gratitude to President Xi for the hospitality.
The last time a North Korean leader attended a military parade in China was in 1959, and Kim’s participation indicates a shift from the previous event in 2015 when a top North Korean official represented the country. Kim’s travel is historically significant, as his father and grandfather also used trains for international journeys. The armored train is said to have around 90 carriages equipped with various facilities.
On the day of the parade, tens of thousands of military personnel will showcase military might in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square, commemorating the 80th anniversary of Japan’s surrender in World War II. The parade will feature China’s latest weaponry, although most Western leaders are expected to abstain from attending due to political tensions related to Russia’s actions in Ukraine. Notably, delegates from Southeast Asia, including Indonesia and Malaysia, are expected to attend, reflecting China’s efforts to strengthen regional ties.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c78z2p6gg1zo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss