Kim Jong Un, Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping meet in China

China will hold a parade in Beijing on September 3 to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un will make a rare international visit next week to attend a military parade in the Chinese capital, both countries said Thursday.

— NBC News (@nbcnews.com) 2025-08-28T13:00:24Z

On this occasion, Chinese President Xi Jinping has personally invited North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin as guests of honor.

No Western leader was on Xi Jinping’s guest list for this military parade, which brings together heads of state and government from several countries, including Russia, North Korea, Iran, Belarus and Pakistan.

According to NBC News and China’s official Xinhua news agency, heads of state and government from 26 countries will take part in the event.

The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs has indicated that a “warm” welcome will be extended to the North Korean leader, for whom this will be a rare outing outside his country.