North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has embarked on his latest diplomatic mission aboard his signature armored train, heading to Beijing to make his multilateral debut on the world stage. He is set to join Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and 26 other leaders for China’s ‘Victory Day’ commemorations, an event closely watched for its geopolitical implications.
State media confirmed Kim’s departure early Tuesday, reporting that he had left Pyongyang on Monday afternoon. The Korean Central News Agency cited Foreign Ministry official Kim Chon-il, noting that the North Korean leader was accompanied by senior officials, including Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui. No details were given about the exact point of departure, though sources in Seoul confirmed his train had crossed into China on Monday.
Kim’s olive-green, heavily fortified flagship train, known for its distinctive yellow stripe, was expected to cross the Sino–North Korea Friendship Bridge linking Sinuiju and Dandong before arriving in Beijing. The train, officially named Taeyang-ho (“sun”), is believed to be fitted with bulletproof windows, reinforced plating, radar-evading mesh, and even onboard weapons. Weighed down by armor, it travels at just 50 km/h, making the journey nearly 20 hours long.
South Korea had anticipated Kim’s decision to use his train over a plane, citing his preference for security. This mirrors past high-profile journeys, including his 2019 60-hour ride to Hanoi for talks with then-US President Donald Trump and his visits to Russia for summits with Vladimir Putin. The armored train has become a symbol of Kim’s leadership style, emphasizing caution, tradition, and spectacle.
Kim’s arrival in Beijing is particularly notable as it places him on the Tiananmen rostrum alongside Xi and Putin during Wednesday’s military parade marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. With leaders from sanctioned states such as Russia, Iran, and Myanmar present — and Western leaders absent — the event underscores the shifting dynamics of global power.
Since assuming power in 2011, Kim has made eight overseas trips, five of which used the Taeyang-ho. On three occasions, he traveled by air, most notably borrowing a Chinese plane for his landmark 2018 Singapore summit with Trump. His own IL-62M jet, Chammae-1, has been criticized for safety concerns, leading him to favor the train for security-sensitive missions.
Kim’s Beijing visit highlights North Korea’s effort to align more closely with China and Russia at a time of heightened tensions with the West. His presence at the military parade alongside Xi and Putin symbolizes not only solidarity among the three but also a pointed message to Washington and its allies.
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