According to Xinhua, at the invitation of the Chinese side, 26 foreign leaders attended the 93rd parade, from this list, the most remarkable is the first two, one is Russian President Putin, and one is North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un.
In recent years, Kim Jong-un's whereabouts have always been mysterious, and he rarely goes abroad, let alone participates in such international activities where leaders of many countries are at the same time. Therefore, there are many special features in his confirmation of going to China this time.
Four for the first time.
Kim Jong-un's 93th parade, compared to his previous exit, is significantly extraordinary, not only breaking the practice of North Korea's 44 years, but also creating four first.
This is the first time since Kim Jong-un came to power to participate in the Chinese military parade. It is also the time since Kim Jong-il's era that North Korea has shown a clear tendency in the choice of diplomatic activities, and hardly participates in multilateral diplomatic activities. The September 3rd military parade was grand, with as many as 26 foreign leaders coming to watch, which undoubtedly brought an unprecedented feast to the diplomatic stage of North Korea.
From a longer-term historical perspective, this is also the first time since 1959 that a top leader of North Korea has participated in China's military parade. Looking back, China and North Korea have been moving forward hand in hand in the long river of history, sharing deep friendship and close ties.
It is particularly worth mentioning that this trip also created a historic moment, that is, the leaders of China, Russia and the DPRK met at the same time and in the same place for the first time. In the current complex and volatile international situation, China, Russia and the DPRK all have their own important positions and influence in international affairs. The gathering of the leaders of the three countries is likely to have a profound impact on the cooperation and exchanges between the three countries, as well as the peace and stability of the region and the world.
Exclusive or specialized?
At present, there is a very realistic question facing North Korea, which is how Kim Jong-un will come to Beijing.
Looking back to Kim Jong-un’s previous history of visiting China, he visited China three times in 2018 and once again in early 2019.
In terms of geographical distance, North Korea is adjacent to China, whether it is a special plane or a special train, which is theoretically feasible and convenient. However, Yonhap News Agency analysis believes that Kim Jong-un is more likely to travel by special train.
In 2018, Kim Jong-un and then US President Trump agreed to meet in Singapore. For this trip, North Korea borrowed a Chinese civil aviation plane. But this seems to be just a special case. Looking at Kim Jong-un's previous foreign visits, it is basically the main train.
In 2019, Kim Jong Un visited Vietnam by train. That long journey seemed to be a journey of friendship across national borders, demonstrating to the world the importance North Korea attaches to developing friendly relations with neighboring countries. Also in 2019 and 2023, Kim Jong-un also visited Russia by train. The wheels of the special train rolled forward on the rails, as if writing the deep friendship between China, North Korea and North Korea and Russia.
The author speculates that Kim Jong-un may be more inclined to choose a special trip, possibly with multiple considerations. From a historical perspective, the special appears to have a special meaning for North Korean leaders. It is not just a means of transportation, but more like a bond that connects the friendship of countries such as China, Russia and other countries. In the past, the elderly leaders of the DPRK, Russia and other countries in the process of communication, may have also been on a special trip, now Kim Jong-un chooses to ride a special trip, in honoring history, inherit the friendship tradition between the elderly leaders.
From a realistic perspective, special train travel also has certain advantages. It can provide Kim Jong Un with a relatively independent, safe and comfortable environment, allowing him to think, rest and conduct necessary communication and exchanges with his entourage during the journey.
South Korea may not be ranked enough to meet Kim Jong Un
In the 1993 military parade, Putin and Kim Jong-un have a greater chance to meet each other face to face, which can be confirmed by the specifications of this event and the status and relationship between the two countries in international affairs. As a big country in the world, Russia has important influence in international politics, economy, military and other fields. Although North Korea is facing some pressures and challenges internationally, it has always firmly safeguarded its sovereignty and interests, and has a geopolitical position in Northeast Asia that cannot be ignored.
Thro history, China, Russia and the DPRK have had deep friendship and close cooperation, and the three leaders met at the same time and in the same place, undoubtedly providing a good opportunity for Putin and Kim Jong-un to meet.
However, compared to Putin and Kim Jong-un, the situation of the North Korean-South Korean leaders appears to be more complicated.
"In China's view, Chairperson Kim Jong-un is much more important than Speaker Woo Won-sik, so it is highly likely that they will accept many of North Korea's demands," according to an analysis by South Korean scholars, who believe that Mr. Lee missed a major opportunity this time because Mr. Woo was not senior enough.
From the current point of view, Li would like to meet with Kim Jong-un during his term through his own efforts, fearing it would be less realistic.
China has established such an important international platform as the September 3rd military parade, which to some extent can be said to provide a good opportunity for exchanges and cooperation between regional countries, but unfortunately, Li Zaiming seemed to have missed this opportunity. He chose to visit the United States at this time.
Finally, let me talk about the significance of Kim Jong-un's visit to China
In the 1930s and 1940s, Korean revolutionaries and China's Northeast Anti-Japanese Alliance fought side by side between the white mountains and black waters. Many Korean activists spilled their blood on the land of China. This heroic history has become an unbreakable bond between the people of China and North Korea. Today, Kim Jong-un's visit to China and his attendance at activities commemorating the victory of the Anti-Japanese War is undoubtedly a kind of remembrance and tribute to this period of history. In addition, against the background of the current changing international landscape, the situation in Northeast Asia is in a complex and changeable stage.
The United States has continuously increased its military deployment in the Korean Peninsula, attempting to contain China and North Korea with the “Asia-Pacific version of NATO”, which poses a serious threat to peace and stability in the region, and Kim Jong-un’s visit to China, through a joint commemoration of the victory in the war, has released a clear signal to the world that neither China nor the DPRK will forget the history of jointly combating foreign aggression, nor will it allow external forces to easily challenge relations between the two countries.
In the face of Western pressure, the DPRK stillins strategic mutual trust and close cooperation.This cooperation is not only based on historical friendship, but also on real interests and common goals.In the future, the two countries are expected to further strengthen cooperation and exchanges in political, economic, cultural and other fields.