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| ▲ This image, published by the Korean Central News Agency on Sept. 4, 2025, shows North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (R) holding the hands of Chinese President Xi Jinping ahead of China's military parade at Tiananmen Square in Beijing on Sept. 3. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap) |
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| ▲ This image from Tass shows (from R) North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Beijing on Sept. 3, 2025. (Yonhap) |
(6th LD) N Korea-China-summit
(6th LD) Kim, Xi hold talks in Beijing, affirm bilateral friendship: state media
(ATTN: UPDATES throughout with Chinese media report, Kim's special train seen leaving Beijing; RECASTS headline; TRIMS)
By Park Boram
BEIJING/SEOUL, Sept. 4 (Yonhap) -- North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks in Beijing on Thursday, with both sides affirming bilateral friendship in their first meeting in more than six years, according to China's state media.
The talks came a day after Kim, Russian President Vladimir Putin, together with Xi and other leaders, attended a huge military parade, in a display of defiance against the West led by the United States.
It also marked Kim's debut on the multilateral diplomatic stage as he was accompanied by his young daughter, Ju-ae, fueling speculation that she is the likely heir apparent in the communist dynasty.
During the talks at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Xi told Kim that the two nations "are good neighbors, good friends and good comrades who share a common destiny and stand by each other," according to China's Xinhua News Agency.
Kim's presence at the military parade, which marked China's celebration of the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, demonstrated North Korea's "firm resolve to safeguard the outcomes of the victory in World War II, and provided an important opportunity for the two parties and two countries to further develop friendly and cooperative relations," according to the Xinhua report.
Hours after the talks, a special train used by Kim was seen leaving Beijing railway station.
The talks between Kim and Xi came as the two countries work to restore traditionally close ties strained by Pyongyang's recent alignment with Moscow.
The talks mark the first meeting between Kim and Xi in more than six years, since their last summit held in Pyongyang in June 2019.
It marked Kim's fifth trip to China, following his last in January 2019.
Shortly after the military parade, Kim appeared again shoulder to shoulder with Xi and Putin at a reception hosted by the Chinese president and held a summit with Putin.
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