North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un will attend a military parade in Beijing next week alongside Russia's Vladimir Putin, China has announced, marking a significant milestone in this diplomatic engagement.

This visit is particularly noteworthy as it marks Kim's first multilateral international meeting, thereby underscoring a diplomatic success for China's Xi Jinping, who has been advocating for a new Beijing-led global order.

The event represents an opportunity for Xi to showcase his influence—albeit limited—on both Putin and Kim at a time when Washington seeks to negotiate a resolution to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

US President Donald Trump, although not in attendance, expressed his desire to meet Kim, whose expanding nuclear arsenal and backing of Russia have unsettled Western powers.

The "Victory Day" parade will celebrate the 80th anniversary of Japan's surrender during World War II. Putin and Kim will join approximately 26 other heads of state, making it the first time a North Korean leader has participated in a Chinese military parade since 1959.

China is expected to exhibit its latest military capabilities, including a vast array of aircraft, tanks, and anti-drone systems. The newly structured military force will be on full display for the first time in a parade setting.

This meticulously organized event will feature thousands of military personnel marching in formation through Tiananmen Square, alongside troops from 45 military echelons and war veterans.

Xi will preside over the 70-minute parade, which is anticipated to attract significant international attention from analysts and Western nations.

China's foreign ministry recently praised North Korea for its longstanding "traditional friendship" with Beijing, assuring continued collaboration towards achieving "regional peace and stability."

Kim’s presence marks a notable advancement from China's last Victory Day parade in 2015, when only a senior North Korean official represented Pyongyang.

Rarely traveling abroad, Kim's recent interactions with global leaders have been confined mainly to twice meetings with Putin since Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

This opportunity allows Kim, previously viewed as an international outcast, to reassert his position on the global stage while reinforcing his connection with China.

Typically, Kim seeks to balance his alliances with both Moscow and Beijing, avoiding overdependence on either. However, this will be his first face-to-face meeting with Xi in six years.

This year's parade is particularly critical, as it strengthens Xi's diplomatic leverage ahead of potential meetings with Trump, who is hinting at travels to Asia and negotiations over tariffs and trade relationships.

It has been six years since Kim's last Beijing visit, during which he marked the 70th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two nations in 2019, and he visited three times in 2018, a notably active year for his international engagements.

Most Western leaders are expected to boycott the parade due to their opposition to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which has led to sanctions against Putin's regime.

However, Beijing has maintained a neutral stance on the conflict, facing accusations from the US and its allies of providing aid to Russia, which Beijing denies. Kim, meanwhile, has offered both weaponry and troops to support Russia’s military actions.

The leader list for the parade reflects China's emergence and its evolving relationship with global powers, featuring leaders such as Indonesia's president and Malaysia's prime minister to indicate strengthened relations with Southeast Asia, while countries like Singapore send lower-level representatives.

Myanmar's military ruler, dependent on China for trade and aid, is also expected to attend.

In stark contrast, the European Union's representation is considerably reduced, with only Slovakia's Prime Minister Robert Fico confirming attendance and other countries like Bulgaria and Hungary participating with representatives.

In previous parades, countries such as Poland and France had sent higher-level officials, hinting at a shift in diplomatic dynamics.