Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un may be preparing for discussions during their forthcoming trip to China.

China’s state-run broadcaster CCTV has identified Putin and Kim as the top invitees among 26 heads of state for a military parade on September 3, commemorating the conclusion of the Second Sino-Japanese War and World War II. North Korean state media has confirmed Kim’s intention to attend.

Putin’s visit to China is set for August 31 to September 3, where he will participate in a regional summit, have bilateral discussions with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, and attend the World War II memorial events. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov described the visit as “completely unprecedented” on Wednesday.

Yang Moo-jin, president of the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul, told Reuters that it is quite exceptional for Kim to be present at a Victory Day event, and this might be the first occasion he joins a gathering with numerous heads of state, potentially allowing him to meet with Putin.

The South China Morning Post reported that “the stage is set” for Putin and Kim to appear together with Xi in a symbolic show of resistance against U.S. demands.

Since Putin initiated the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Russia and North Korea have notably enhanced their diplomatic and military relations. The two nations established a mutual defense agreement during Putin’s visit to Pyongyang last year.

In late 2024 and early 2025, North Korea sent thousands of troops to Russia to assist in countering a Ukrainian offensive in the southwestern region of Kursk. According to South Korean intelligence, approximately 600 North Korean soldiers lost their lives in the clashes.

Pyongyang officially acknowledged its troop deployment to Russia in April and admitted that some had been killed in combat. Meanwhile, the United States has accused the Kremlin of providing North Korea with advanced space and satellite technology in exchange for its support.