Kim joins Putin, Xi at military parade in defiance of West

FILE: Before the military parade in Beijing to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. (Photo: Sergei Bobylev, RIA Novosti via Kremlin.Ru

By Yonhap, Philippine News Agency

BEIJING/SEOUL – North Korean leader Kim Jong-un stood shoulder to shoulder with Russia’s Vladimir Putin and China’s Xi Jinping at center stage at a military parade in Beijing on Wednesday, marking the first such meeting among leaders of Pyongyang, Moscow and Beijing in 66 years.

The spectacle of Kim standing with Putin and Xi at the viewing gallery of Tiananmen Square marks a major display of their trilateral solidarity in defiance of the West.

The three arrived at the rostrum side by side, sharing friendly conversations in a historic moment that displays solidarity among China, Russia and North Korea.

They stayed next to each other as the parade kicked off with elaborate ceremonies at Tiananmen Square, marking the 80th anniversary of what China celebrates as its victory over Japan and the end of World War II.

The gathering of the three leaders have come together in 66 years, since North Korean founder Kim Il-sung, Chinese founder Mao Zedong and former Soviet Union Prime Minister Nikita Khrushchev jointly attended a similar military parade in 1959 at the square.

It was also the first meeting of Kim, Xi and Putin –three leaders known for their defiance of the United States — in what would be a strong signal to the world about their trilateral solidarity vis a vis the US-led unipolar world order.

In a speech at the parade, Xi said the Chinese people’s rejuvenation is “unstoppable,” adding that humanity is once again faced with a choice between war or peace.

He said the Chinese people will adhere to the path of peaceful development and build a community with a shared future with the rest of the world, as China showcased its military strength at the parade, including its latest weaponry and well-drilled troops.