North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Russian President Vladimir Putin affirmed their commitment to strengthening their alliance during discussions in Beijing.

Leaders of North Korea, Russia, and China Meet in Historic Gathering

In a significant diplomatic move, North Korea's Kim Jong Un, Russia's Vladimir Putin, and China's Xi Jinping held talks in Beijing. This marked the first such gathering of the leaders of these three nations since the early days of the Cold War.

The meeting took place during a grand military parade hosted by President Xi Jinping, marking the formal surrender of Japan in World War Two. State media photos showed Kim Jong Un standing or walking with Putin and Xi side by side, smiling.

During the talks, Kim Jong Un and Putin exchanged opinions on important international and regional issues. They also discussed their long-term partnership plans and reaffirmed their commitment to strengthen bilateral relations. This meeting comes after last year's signing of a mutual defense treaty between North Korea and Russia, which calls for each side to assist the other in the event of an armed attack.

In a show of support, North Korea has sent approximately 6,000 troops to Russia, with about 1,000 combat soldiers already in Russia. However, it was reported that approximately 2,000 North Korean soldiers fighting for Russia have been estimated to have been killed this week by South Korea's intelligence agency.

The talks also symbolized China's message of a new world order and closer ties among these nations, particularly within the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), whose members include China, Russia, India, Iran, Pakistan, Belarus, and several Central Asian states. However, no explicit new defense pact commitments were publicly detailed at this event.

The SCO, while significant, is viewed by some analysts as lacking cohesive security obligations comparable to NATO, due to internal rivalries such as between India and Pakistan.

In a notable development, Kim Jong Un pledged full support for Russia's army during the talks. This support comes as North Korea has sent soldiers, artillery ammunition, and missiles to Russia to support Moscow in its war against Ukraine.

Kim Jong Un had his first chance to meet Putin and Xi together during this trip. More than two dozen national leaders attended the events Kim Jong Un was a part of, further highlighting the significance of this diplomatic gathering.