Xi Jinping and Kim Jong-un Expected to Meet… Uncertainty Over Three-Party Talks
Following Conclusion of China-Russia Economic and Security Cooperation, Used as a Negotiation Card with the U.S.
North Korean Media Highlights Kim Jong-un’s Attendance at Victory Day Celebration
Kim Jong-un, Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of North Korea, has emerged as a ‘global player’ at the Victory Day celebration in China, marking the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. Standing to the left of Chinese President Xi Jinping, he ascended the rostrum of Tiananmen Square and also appeared alongside Xi at a luncheon reception, receiving top honors. This move is seen as elevating North Korea’s status beyond that during the tenure of his father, former Chairman Kim Jong-il.
Analysts believe that during this visit, Kim’s actions indicate that China has practically acknowledged North Korea as a nuclear-armed state. In response to U.S. tariff pressures, China’s alliance with Russia and North Korea has allowed North Korea’s nuclear status to be implicitly tolerated, while North Korea has bolstered its image as a ‘normal state’ to enhance its negotiation leverage with the U.S.
Kim is expected to hold a bilateral meeting with President Xi Jinping in Beijing, possibly as soon as the morning of the 4th, followed by afternoon engagements. This marks the first North Korea-China bilateral summit in approximately six years and eight months. Discussions are anticipated to focus on significant issues such as economic cooperation, strategic communication for easing international sanctions that have hampered North Korea’s economy, and partnership on key national projects such as local development.
This meeting follows a bilateral summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin, where military cooperation and a commitment to a ‘brotherly obligation’ were emphasized. The North Korean media, including the Korean Central News Agency, extensively covered Kim’s participation in the Victory Day celebration and his summit with Putin, highlighting his presence on the multilateral diplomatic stage.
Furthermore, reports from the two countries’ bilateral talks, held at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, mentioned detailed discussions on future cooperation plans, with both sides reaffirming their commitment to maintaining excellent bilateral relations. The discussions also included praise for North Korean troops deployed to Kursk and mutual support for Russia’s government, military, and people.
The North Korean newspaper Rodong Sinmun devoted the first three pages of its six-page issue to covering Kim’s activities at the Victory Day celebration, underscoring his conduct as a ‘normal state leader.’ The paper featured images of Kim on the Tiananmen rostrum with Xi and Putin, as well as candid photos of him engaging with various world leaders.
Despite these developments, the possibility of a trilateral meeting involving North Korea, China, and Russia remains uncertain, with South Korean intelligence agencies deeming it unlikely. Nevertheless, Kim’s participation in the Victory Day celebration has drawn significant international attention.
In the previous day’s celebration, Kim consistently stood to the left of President Xi, invited Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko to North Korea, and actively engaged in multilateral diplomacy. In a subsequent luncheon reception, he sat beside Xi’s spouse, Peng Liyuan, engaging in a toast and conversing with other leaders, solidifying his image as a state’s leader on the international stage. He also greeted South Korean National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik without hesitation.
Goh Yu-hwan, an emeritus professor of North Korean studies at Dongguk University, stated, “While North Korea was isolated as a hermit state under Kim Jong-il, Kim Jong-un has reorganized internally and stepped onto the multilateral stage, indicating a desire to play a role in the international community. This was North Korea’s aim, as prolonging the situation would eventually attach nuclear state status and now resolve economic issues.”
He further commented, “China, engaged in a tariff war with the U.S., likely had no choice but to involve Kim and strengthen a global anti-U.S. alliance alongside President Putin. Although China has opposed North Korean nuclear development and participated in sanctions, it is now implicitly acknowledging it.”