In an echo of history, a parade commemorating the end of World War II will highlight the formation of new global blocs. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s visit to Beijing next week for the Wednesday event is a key indicator of this geopolitical shift.
The parade, marking the 80th anniversary of the war’s end, will be attended by Russia’s Vladimir Putin but shunned by leaders of the U.S. and major Western European countries. This split transforms a historical remembrance into a stark illustration of modern-day divisions.
Kim’s presence is a strategic necessity. As his first trip abroad since 2019, it is a crucial opportunity to reinforce ties with China, the economic patron that ensures his regime’s survival.
The gathering of Kim, Xi, and Putin will serve as the official portrait of a new Eastern alliance. It is a public declaration of their shared interests and their collective challenge to the Western-led international system.