North Korean Chairperson Kim Jong Un arrived in Beijing on the afternoon of the 2nd (local time) to attend the 80th anniversary celebration of China's victory day, according to the Korean Central News Agency.
The agency reported that the exclusive train carrying Chairperson Kim arrived in Beijing, the capital of China, at 4 p.m. that day, citing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' press office. Major officials, including Cai Qi, secretary of the Central Secretariat of the Communist Party of China (a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau and ranked 5th officially), and Wang Yi, head of the Central Foreign Affairs Office of the Communist Party (who also serves as Foreign Minister), and Yin Yong, secretary of the Beijing Municipal Party Committee, came out to greet him at Beijing Station.
Chairperson Kim expressed his pleasure in meeting with the Chinese officials, saying, "I am glad to visit the People's Republic of China again after six years." He also expressed gratitude for the hospitality from the party, government, and people, including President Xi Jinping.
It is unusual for North Korea to publicly disclose the itinerary of its supreme leader's overseas visits in real time. When he departed from Pyongyang for a visit to Russia on Sept. 10, 2023, it was reported two days later, on Sept. 12, through state media. While the article did not mention whether his wife, Ri Sol Ju, daughter Ju Ae, or younger sister Kim Yo Jong, deputy director of the party, accompanied him, photographs released by the agency captured Ju Ae following behind Chairperson Kim.
Chairperson Kim's visit to China comes 6 years and 8 months after January 2019. He is expected to attend the 80th anniversary military parade in Beijing on the 3rd at the invitation of President Xi Jinping, alongside Russian President Vladimir Putin.