Rare Visit of Pyongyang to Beijing Strengthens the China-Russia-North Korea Axis
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un made an unprecedented diplomatic visit to China on September 2, 2025, marking his first trip abroad since 2023. He arrived with his wife aboard his armored train, nicknamed “the mobile fortress,” to participate in a military parade held in Beijing to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II.
This visit comes amid a charged regional and international backdrop, as Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin sharply criticized the West during the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Tianjin, calling for a multipolar world and a fairer global system while rejecting what they termed a “Cold War mentality” and “intimidation politics.”
Kim’s participation in this event symbolizes the growing rapprochement among Beijing, Moscow, and Pyongyang, following the signing of a comprehensive strategic partnership treaty between North Korea and Russia in June 2024, which Kim described as “the strongest in the history of the two countries,” focusing primarily on defense and security.
This trilateral meeting between the leaders of these three authoritarian states reflects a shared will to confront Western influence and push for an alternative global order. Despite past differences between China and North Korea over the nuclear issue, Kim’s visit to Beijing indicates his commitment to strengthening ties with his top economic supporters.
This move could have ramifications for the balance of power in the Asia-Pacific region, as the United States and its allies closely monitor this growing coordination among China, Russia, and North Korea. Kim Jong Un’s participation reaffirms Pyongyang’s intention to solidify its international presence by bolstering its alliances in the face of rising Western pressures.
