Kim Jong Un's trip to Beijing this week offers the reclusive young North Korean leader an unprecedented opportunity to stand beside partners from China and Russia, gain implicit support for his banned nuclear weapons, and expand his diplomatic circle.
Kim rode into the Chinese capital in his signature armoured train on Tuesday, ahead of his attendance at a military parade to be held by China to commemorate the end of World War Two.
He has never attended a world event with so many other foreign leaders, and it marks one of his most momentous diplomatic moves since holding historic summits with Donald Trump during the U.S. president's first term, analysts and South Korean officials said.
While more than two dozen national leaders will attend, the Kremlin has said Russian President Vladimir Putin and Kim will flank Chinese President Xi Jinping on either side during the parade.
"It's elevating North Korea's position to kind of the big boys, and then Kim can project that image back home like he did with his summit with Donald Trump, he can really show off his world statesman side," said John Delury, a senior fellow at The Asia Society. "Kim Jong Un is a global brand."
Reuters
More about:
