Overview

• South Korean and local media said Kim left Pyongyang on Monday afternoon aboard his special armored train, with arrival in Beijing expected Tuesday after an overnight border crossing.
• North Korean state media said Kim inspected a newly inaugurated missile factory, declared a five-year expansion plan for missile production fulfilled, and approved new long-term capacity plans.
• Russian media, citing the Kremlin, reported Kim will be seated to Xi Jinping’s left and Vladimir Putin to Xi’s right at Wednesday’s Tiananmen parade, with a trilateral meeting described as possible.
• Indicators pointed to rail travel, including unavailable Dandong–Beijing overnight tickets and tightened security in the border city, while two unscheduled Air Koryo flights to Beijing suggested logistical preparations.
• The Beijing appearance would be Kim’s first multilateral diplomatic outing and comes as multiple reports say North Korea has supplied weapons and troops to support Russia’s war in Ukraine.