North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has left Pyongyang for China, where he will be attending a military parade in the capital Beijing, media reports say.
The Victory Day parade, which takes place on Wednesday, will see Kim rub shoulders with China's President Xi Jinping, Russia's Vladimir Putin, and other world leaders, marking it as his first multilateral international meeting.
Kim departed on Monday evening aboard his armoured train, which is reportedly equipped with a restaurant car serving fine French wines and seafood delicacies like fresh lobster.
The train's robust security features necessitate slow travel, and Kim's journey is expected to take up to 24 hours, according to South Korea's Yonhap agency.
His attendance signifies the first time a North Korean leader has been present at a military parade in China since 1959, joining 26 other heads of state, including leaders from Myanmar, Iran, and Cuba.
This appearance represents an upgrade from previous occasions; during the last Chinese Victory Day parade in 2015, Kim's regime only sent a senior official, Choe Ryong-hae.
The reclusive leader seldom ventures abroad, with his recent interactions with foreign leaders primarily involving Putin, a relationship that has grown since Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Kim's last visit to Beijing was in 2019 for events commemorating 70 years of diplomatic relations between North Korea and China, where he similarly traveled by train.
The tradition of train travel was established by Kim's grandfather, Kim Il Sung, and continued by his father, Kim Jong Il, who preferred this mode of transport due to a fear of flying.
Reports indicate Kim's armoured train comprises around 90 carriages, including conference rooms and sleeping quarters.
This impending parade is set to feature tens of thousands of military personnel marching through Beijing's Tiananmen Square, commemorating the 80th anniversary of Japan's surrender in World War II and the subsequent conclusion of the conflict.
The event is likely to showcase China's latest military capabilities, comprising numerous aircraft, tanks, and anti-drone systems.
Most Western leaders are anticipated to abstain from the parade in light of their opposition to Russia's aggressive actions in Ukraine, which have led to sanctions against the Kremlin.
However, leaders from Southeast Asia—including Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, and Vietnam—are expected to strengthen ties with China through their attendance. Only one EU leader, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, will make an appearance, along with representatives from Bulgaria and Hungary.
