North Korea's Kim Jong Un shook hands with South Korea parliament speaker Woo - News1

North Korea's Kim Jong Un shook hands with South Korea parliament speaker Woo - News1

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un traveled to Beijing on Tuesday to attend a military parade alongside Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin, marking his first attendance of a major multilateral event during his 14-year rule [1]. This event, which commemorates the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II and China's fight against Japan's wartime aggressions, could potentially demonstrate a three-way unity against the United States.

The visit comes amid a backdrop of geopolitical tensions, as North Korea's relations with China have reportedly turned sour in recent years, with China expressing discomfort over North Korea's actions [2]. However, Kim's trip to China at the invitation of President Xi suggests a potential improvement in bilateral relations. This visit is part of Kim's "clockwise diplomacy," which aims to maximize North Korea's interests by traveling between China and Russia [2].

Kim's visit also coincides with his daughter, believed to be Ju Ae, making her first public appearance abroad in Beijing. This has sparked speculation about her potential succession, as South Korean intelligence suggests she is the leading candidate to inherit the family's dynastic rule over the nuclear-armed state [3]. While there is no evidence to suggest Kim Jong Un ever accompanied his father, Kim Jong Il, on foreign visits, historical records indicate that Kim Jong Il traveled abroad in the 1950s alongside his father, Kim Il Sung [3].

In the context of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, North Korea has become more vocal in international affairs beyond the Korean Peninsula, issuing diplomatic statements on conflicts in the Middle East and in the Taiwan Strait, while portraying itself as a part of a united front against Washington [1]. This visit to Beijing is part of efforts to develop partnerships with other nations close to China and Russia.

The visit also comes as President Donald Trump and new liberal South Korean President Lee Jae Myung have repeatedly expressed their hopes to restart talks with North Korea. However, North Korea has been shunning talks with the U.S. and South Korea and pushing to expand its nuclear and missile arsenals since Kim’s earlier round of diplomacy with Trump collapsed in 2019 [1].

References:
[1] https://ca.news.yahoo.com/north-koreas-kim-jong-un-230918427.html
[2] https://www.mk.co.kr/en/politics/11404887
[3] https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/rest-of-world/who-is-kim-ju-ae-kim-jong-uns-13-year-old-daughter-makes-debut-international-appearance-in-china-next-likely-leader-of-north-korea/articleshow/123668478.cms