Overview

• Kim arrived by armored train and was greeted by senior Chinese officials at Beijing Railway Station, with Xinhua publishing photos of his arrival.
• South Korea’s NIS says he is expected to stand beside Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin on the Tiananmen rostrum and may hold separate summits; the Kremlin says a Putin–Kim meeting is under consideration.
• It is Kim’s first appearance at a major multilateral event of his rule and the first time the three leaders will be seen together, with no trilateral summit confirmed.
• KCNA reported Kim inspected a missile research institute before departure to review a new engine for a “next‑generation” intercontinental ballistic missile, signaling ongoing weapons development.
• South Korean assessments say North Korea has sent about 15,000 troops and ammunition to Russia with roughly 2,000 killed, reflecting deepening ties following a 2024 security pact.