North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has pledged stronger support for China and reaffirmed ties with Russia in what analysts are calling a new strategic triangle of cooperation. The move highlights a growing alignment between Beijing, Moscow, and Pyongyang, seen as a counterweight to U.S. influence in Asia and beyond.
The pledge came during Kim high-profile meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on Thursday — his first overseas trip since 2023, when he last visited Moscow for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
North Korea Reaffirms Support for China
According to Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Kim assured Xi that Pyongyang will “support and encourage China defense of its sovereignty and development interests.” He stressed that “no matter how the international situation changes, the friendship cannot change.”
Xi welcomed Kim warmly, calling China and North Korea “good neighbours, good friends, and good comrades.” Senior Chinese Communist Party leaders, including Cai Qi and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, joined the send-off, reflecting Beijing strong commitment to the alliance.
Military Parade Showcases China Strength
Kim visit coincided with a massive military parade in Beijing, where the People Liberation Army (PLA) displayed its latest stealth fighter jets, intercontinental missiles, and advanced tanks. Thousands of troops marched in formation in a tightly choreographed show of strength.
Xi described the parade as a celebration of victory in the “world anti-fascist war,” marking 80 years since China triumph over Japanese aggression.
Leaders from 26 mostly non-Western nations attended, but the joint presence of Xi, Putin, and Kim stole the spotlight. The three leaders reportedly held over two hours of talks, focusing on long-term cooperation.
Russia Praises North Korean Support
Russia highlighted North Korea role in the Ukraine war. Putin publicly thanked Pyongyang for sending soldiers, missiles, and artillery shells to aid Moscow.
In a message to Kim, Putin praised the “heroic involvement” of North Korean forces in the Kursk region, briefly seized by Ukraine before being recaptured by Russian troops.
Kim, in turn, described supporting Russia army as a “fraternal duty,” underlining the deepening military partnership.
U.S. and Western Reactions
The show of unity sparked alarm in Washington. Former U.S. President Donald Trump criticized the meeting on Truth Social, accusing the trio of conspiring “against the United States of America.”
Moscow dismissed his comments, saying “no one even had this in their thoughts.” But Western analysts warn that the emerging bloc could challenge U.S. influence not just in Asia but globally, by pushing back against Western sanctions and military pressure.
Strategic Implications for Asia
Kim Beijing visit signals a new strategic realignment:
- For China, North Korea is a buffer state and reliable partner.
- For Russia, Pyongyang supplies weapons and manpower amid the Ukraine conflict.
- For North Korea, closer ties with Beijing and Moscow help counter isolation and sanctions.
Experts say the alignment could reshape the security landscape in Asia, complicating strategies for the U.S., South Korea, and Japan.
Kim First Trip Abroad Since 2023
Kim wrapped up his Beijing trip on Thursday evening, marking his first overseas visit in nearly two years. His last foreign tour in 2023 included meetings with Putin and inspections of Russian military sites.
This time, Kim stood side by side with both Xi and Putin. The image of the three leaders together sent a clear message: North Korea is no longer isolated, but part of a rising bloc seeking to reshape global power.
