Kim Jong Un Leaves Pyongyang by Armoured Train to Attend Beijing 'Victory Day' Parade
North Korea's leader departs on a slow, heavily protected rail journey to join President Xi and other heads of state at Wednesday's military event in Beijing.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un departed Pyongyang on Monday evening aboard an armoured train bound for China, state media and international reports said, as he prepares to attend a military "Victory Day" parade in Beijing on Wednesday.
Kim's presence at the event will place him among other world leaders, including China's President Xi Jinping and Russia's Vladimir Putin, and marks his first multilateral international meeting. South Korean news agency Yonhap reported the journey could take up to 24 hours because the armoured train travels slowly under heavy protection.
The train reportedly includes a restaurant car serving imported French wines and dishes such as fresh lobster, details that have drawn attention because Kim rarely travels outside North Korea. Media accounts said Pyongyang elevated its representation compared with China's previous major Victory Day event in 2015, when it sent senior official Choe Ryong-hae rather than the leader himself.
State and international outlets said Kim will be among 26 heads of state in attendance, including leaders from Myanmar, Iran and Cuba. It will be the first time a North Korean leader has attended a Chinese military parade since 1959.
Kim's use of an armoured train follows a pattern in which he has used heavily secured rail travel for trips abroad, including a widely reported journey to Russia in 2023. The slow pace of such trains reflects both the level of security around his movements and the logistical arrangements required for transporting the North Korean leader.
North Korean state media did not immediately provide detailed schedules for the visit or list specific meetings planned around the parade. Chinese and Russian officials issued routine confirmations of attendance by their leaders, and state-run outlets in Beijing have described the parade as a large-scale commemorative event.
Analysts and foreign governments are expected to monitor the meetings and appearances closely for any diplomatic signals, though official briefings from Pyongyang traditionally offer limited detail. Kim's arrival in Beijing is anticipated ahead of the Wednesday parade, and further updates will depend on statements from the governments involved and coverage by state media outlets.