Putin and Kim Jong Un Hold Bilateral Talks in Beijing After Chinese Military Parade

Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un met Wednesday in Beijing for bilateral talks after attending a large Chinese military parade that commemorated the anniversary of the end of World War II.

The meeting took place at the Diaoyutai state guest house, where the two leaders arrived after sharing time with other world leaders at the parade and a formal reception, the Kremlin said on social media. Kremlin posts and media reports said Putin and Kim even traveled to the talks in the same car after departing the reception.

At the start of the meeting, Putin praised North Korean soldiers for what he described as their "bravery and heroism" in fighting alongside Russian forces in Moscow’s war in Ukraine, the Associated Press reported. The AP said Russian officials indicated North Korean personnel were helping to prevent Ukrainian attacks on the Kursk region.

The talks came amid a broader display of diplomacy in Beijing. Chinese President Xi Jinping presided over the parade and hosted a reception attended by several foreign leaders, including the guests from Russia, North Korea and Iran. Chinese officials have described ties with Russia as "unprecedentedly high," and the arrival of the Iranian and North Korean leaders underscored Beijing's effort to project influence through state-level ceremonies and summitry.

The meeting follows a period of growing public cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang. Western governments and analysts have expressed concern in recent months about military and security ties between the two countries, and the presence of North Korean personnel alongside Russian forces has attracted particular attention. Neither Moscow nor Pyongyang has provided full independent confirmation of the scope of any personnel deployments.

Officials did not immediately release a detailed joint statement after the bilateral meeting in Beijing, and neither leader outlined a timetable for further talks. The gathering is the latest in a series of high-profile meetings among states that have sought closer relations with China amid tensions with the West.

Diplomatic observers said the sequence — attendance at a high-profile military parade followed by private talks — reflects Beijing’s use of ceremonial events to facilitate one-on-one discussions among aligned states. The meeting is likely to be watched closely by capitals in Europe, East Asia and Washington, which have all monitored the deepening ties among Moscow, Pyongyang and Beijing.

As of Wednesday evening local time, no additional details on agreements or concrete outcomes had been released by the host Chinese government, the Kremlin or North Korean state media. Further reporting may clarify whether formal commitments or security arrangements were discussed during the session at the Diaoyutai guest house.