North Korea, China, and Russia Gather in Pyongyang... Kim Jong Un Seizes Opportunity for 'Nuclear Force Propaganda'

Kim Jong-un Resumes Public Activities Ahead of 'Victory Day'
Chinese and Russian Delegations Arrive in Pyongyang... Demonstrating Close Ties
Strengthening Anti-US Alliance... North Korea Seizes Opportunity to Promote Nuclear Forces

As the 70th anniversary of North Korea's Victory Day (the day the Korean Armistice Agreement was signed) approaches on the 27th of this month, delegations from China and Russia are gathering in Pyongyang, highlighting a clearer new Cold War dynamic in the region. The trilateral alliance of South Korea, the United States, and Japan has raised the 'role theory' of China and Russia to deter North Korean provocations, but North Korea is expected to use the Victory Day military parade to stage a display of China and Russia's 'approval' of its nuclear development.

According to the Korean Central News Agency on the 26th, Chairman of the State Affairs Commission Kim Jong-un paid respects the day before at the Martyrs' Cemetery for the Fatherland Liberation War and the Martyrs' Cemetery of the Chinese People's Volunteers. News of Kim Jong-un's public activities came 37 days after the report of his attendance at the Party plenary meeting on the 19th of last month. During the visit to the Chinese military cemetery, his closest aides including his sister Kim Yo-jong, Secretary Jo Yong-won, Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui, and Defense Minister Kang Sun-nam accompanied him.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

This is the first time since the 60th anniversary in 2013 and the 65th anniversary in 2018 that Kim Jong-un has visited both the Martyrs' Cemetery and the Chinese military cemetery around Victory Day. This move appears to reflect a tendency to emphasize 'jubilee years' that fall on five-year intervals. He also laid a wreath adorned with a ribbon inscribed with "The Chinese People's Volunteers Martyrs Will Live Forever" at the Martyrs' Tower and placed flowers at the grave of Mao Anying, the eldest son of Mao Zedong.

Following the invitation of the Chinese Party and government delegation on the 24th, North Korea announced the day before that it would invite a military delegation led by Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu. The China-Russia delegations are expected to attend the military parade likely to be held on the 27th to commemorate the 70th anniversary of Victory Day and meet with Kim Jong-un. This is the first time in 10 years that foreign delegations have been invited to the Victory Day event.

The gathering of North Korea, China, and Russia in Pyongyang clearly demonstrates the new Cold War dynamics in the region. China and Russia have consistently supported North Korea at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), condemning North Korea's military provocations including intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) launches. This alignment of interests stems from China competing with the United States, Russia's isolation due to the war in Ukraine, and North Korea's need for backing amid prolonged sanctions.

Xi Jinping, Kim Jong-un, Putin

Through the 70th Victory Day event, North Korea is expected to showcase the close ties between North Korea, China, and Russia while orchestrating a strategic display to gain China and Russia's 'approval' of its nuclear development. North Korea has historically flaunted its military power by unveiling numerous new strategic weapons during military parades, and this event will symbolically show the Chinese and Russian delegations observing rows of ICBMs and other lethal weapons.

However, in China's case, it appears to have moderated its level of representation by sending Li Hongzhong, Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, who is equivalent to a parliamentary vice speaker, indicating a lower rank than in the past. Conversely, Russia's decision to dispatch its Defense Minister amid the ongoing war in Ukraine is notable. This is seen as possibly linked to suspicions that North Korea has been supplying weapons to Russia.

Hong Min, head of the North Korea Research Division at the Korea Institute for National Unification, said, "From China's perspective, it seems they adjusted the delegation's rank to avoid overly flaunting the close ties between North Korea and China, while also ensuring that North Korea's 70th Victory Day is not treated with neglect." Regarding the 'dispatch of the Russian Defense Minister,' he viewed it as aligning with the commemorative nature of Victory Day and as a practical measure to discuss military cooperation between North Korea and Russia.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.