Beijing parade forges unlikely ‘alliance’: North Korea edges closer to Central Asia

Social media remains flooded with images of world leaders in Beijing for the 80th anniversary of World War II victory over Japan.

One image in particular drew attention: North Korean leader Kim Jong Un seated next to Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.

The seating arrangement for honored guests, dictated by the host country’s protocol, created an unusual pairing rarely seen at other high-level events, since Kim seldom travels abroad. For Tokayev, a veteran diplomat, this was reportedly his first face-to-face encounter with the young North Korean leader.

Coverage of the Beijing events highlighted that this was Kim’s first appearance at a multilateral summit. He was accompanied by his daughter, underscoring the symbolic weight of his visit.

The parade also held significant meaning for Chinese President Xi Jinping. As Beijing seeks to project its growing economic and diplomatic clout, the military spectacle provided Xi with an opportunity to signal China’s rising capacity to challenge U.S. influence on the global stage.