Beijing — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un met Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing during events marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, highlighting the two countries’ long-standing alliance.
Kim attended a military parade before holding talks with Xi at the Great Hall of the People. Xi said China values its historic friendship with North Korea and is ready to deepen cooperation.
Kim reaffirmed North Korea’s support for China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, saying, “Even if the global situation changes, the friendship between Pyongyang and Beijing will remain unwavering.”
Both leaders agreed to strengthen high-level exchanges, expand strategic dialogue, and work together on regional and international issues of mutual concern.
Kim was seen off by senior Communist Party official Cai Qi and Foreign Minister Wang Yi before returning home. According to North Korea’s state media KCNA, the visit further consolidated political trust between the two sides.
This was Kim’s first overseas trip since his 2023 meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. In Beijing, he also met Putin, who thanked North Korean forces for their role in defending Russia’s Kursk region in the war against Ukraine. Kim described the support as an act of brotherhood and promised it would continue.
The sight of Xi, Putin, and Kim walking together at the Beijing parade drew global attention. Former U.S. President Donald Trump accused China and North Korea of plotting against the United States — a claim dismissed by both Beijing and the Kremlin.
