"Kim attended a Chinese military parade in Beijing a day earlier, alongside other foreign leaders including Russian President Vladimir Putin. Kim is making a rare trip outside North Korea. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said that the two leaders would conduct in-depth exchanges of views on bilateral relations and issues of mutual concern. He said that Kim's attendance at the parade and the talks with Xi "carry great significance.""
"Kim, on his first visit to China in six years, brought his young daughter, adding to speculation that she's being primed as the country's next leader. Experts say Kim likely hopes to restore ties with China, North Korea's biggest trading partner and aid provider, as there have been questions about the bilateral relationship. In recent years, Kim's foreign policy has focused heavily on Russia."
"He has sent combat troops and ammunition to back Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in return for economic and military assistance. At a meeting with Kim in Beijing after the parade, Putin praised the bravery of North Korean soldiers in the fighting. But experts say that Kim would feel the need to prepare for the possible end of the Russia-Ukraine war."
Kim Jong Un met with Xi Jinping in Beijing on the sidelines of World War II commemoration events after attending a Chinese military parade alongside other foreign leaders, including Vladimir Putin. The trip marked Kim's first visit to China in six years and his first large-group international event since taking office in 2011. Kim brought his young daughter, fueling speculation about succession. Kim likely aims to restore ties with China, the country's biggest trading partner and main aid provider, while balancing a foreign policy that has recently focused on closer ties with Russia, including military support during the Russia-Ukraine war.
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