Kim Jong Un, Chairman of North Korea's State Affairs Commission, will attend the military parade commemorating the 80th anniversary of the victory in the War of Resistance Against Japan, which China will hold on September 3.
On August 28, Hong Lei, Assistant Minister of China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, announced the list of attendees, including Chairman Kim Jong Un, at a briefing on preparations for the "80th Anniversary of the Victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japan and the World Anti-Fascist War."
Assistant Minister Hong stated, "China and North Korea are traditional friendly neighbors connected by mountains and rivers," adding, "We warmly welcome General Secretary Kim Jong Un's visit to China to attend the 80th anniversary commemorative events for the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japan and the World Anti-Fascist War." The World Anti-Fascist War refers to World War II.
He continued, "During the difficult and challenging times of war, the peoples of China and North Korea supported each other and jointly resisted Japanese aggression, making significant contributions to the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War and the cause of justice for humanity. Maintaining, consolidating, and developing China-North Korea relations is the firm stance of the Chinese party and government."
On the same day, North Korea's Korean Central News Agency also announced that Chairman Kim will soon visit China to attend the 80th anniversary event at the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping.
According to the Chinese side, heads of state attending the event include Russian President Vladimir Putin, as well as leaders from Vietnam, Laos, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mongolia, Pakistan, Nepal, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Belarus, and Iran. Woo Wonshik, Speaker of the National Assembly of South Korea, along with high-level officials from the United States, the United Kingdom, France, and other countries, are also on the list of attendees.
Chairman Kim previously visited China four times-three times in 2018 and once in 2019-during the first term of U.S. President Donald Trump.
Last year, on the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between North Korea and China, some observers noted that exchanges between the two countries had become less frequent and relations had cooled, as North Korea and Russia grew closer. However, since the beginning of this year, exchanges have become more active again, and Chairman Kim is embarking on his fifth visit to China in six years.
If this visit takes place, it will mark Chairman Kim's first appearance on a multilateral diplomatic stage. At the same time, it will be the first occasion where the leaders of North Korea, China, and Russia gather together.
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