Kim Jong-Un and Troops to Miss Russia’s Victory Day Amid Military Ties

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un will not attend Russia’s May 9 Victory Day celebrations, according to the Kremlin. While he will be represented at the ambassadorial level, Kim’s absence comes amid deepening military cooperation between North Korea and Russia. Despite not participating in the parade, Kim is actively engaging in military inspections at home, signaling ongoing support for Russia’s military endeavors in Ukraine.

On May 8, 2025, in Seoul, it was confirmed by the Kremlin that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and his military forces will be absent from Russia’s Victory Day observances on May 9. There had been considerable speculation around Kim potentially attending the parade at Red Square, particularly in light of increasing military partnerships with Moscow. Nevertheless, Kim remains engaged with North Korea’s military operations as he conducts visits to domestic weapons production facilities, which observers believe signals his support for Russia’s ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

Yury Ushakov, a presidential aide in Russia, mentioned in a recent briefing that although Kim will not attend, North Korea will still be represented at the ambassadorial level. There remains some ambiguity about a possible meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, as Ushakov teased, “There will be another interesting meeting, which you’ll learn about a little later,” giving no additional information.

In total, 29 foreign leaders are set to participate in the Victory Day Parade in Moscow, with notable attendees including the leaders from Belarus, Brazil, China, Cuba, Egypt, Palestine, Venezuela, and various African and Central Asian nations. Historically, no North Korean leader has attended Russia’s May 9 military parade; moreover, North Korea has never sent troops to engage in a foreign military display.

Previously, North Korean representatives have attended significant anniversaries, such as the 70th and 60th Victory Day celebrations in 2015 and 2005 respectively. However, Kim Jong-un continues the familial tradition of avoiding multilateral events, a contrast to his grandfather, Kim Il-sung, who actively participated in international gatherings. Earlier acknowledgment of North Korean troop involvement in Ukraine by both Putin and North Korean media on April 28 had raised expectations about Kim’s attendance, marking the first official recognition of casualties on both sides.

Ushakov firmly indicated that North Korean troops will not be involved in the military parade, confirming the participation of 13 countries, omitting any mention of North Korea. Despite this, Kim Jong-un has been busy checking up on his nation’s arms industry. Reports out of North Korea indicate that he recently inspected munitions factories overseen by the Second Economy Commission, a body responsible for the state’s military economic strategy.

Professor Lim Eul-chul from Kyungnam University interprets Kim’s visits to these factories as preparations for supporting Russia through increased artillery and weapon supplies. He pointed to a distinct focus in state media on ramping up production at these plants, noting, “This is undoubtedly inextricably linked to North Korea’s artillery shell support for Russia’s war in Ukraine.”

Additionally, a state media report this past Sunday highlighted Kim’s tour of a “major tank factory,” albeit without specific names or dates. Senior research fellow Hong Min at the Korea Institute for National Unification shared insights on the M2024 tank referenced in the report, asserting it may be an updated iteration of the M2020 model, designed to incorporate combat lessons emerging from the Ukraine conflict. He remarked, “The heightened emphasis on the importance of tanks in battles against Ukraine… likely contributed to the recent increase in public appearances of tanks. “.

In conclusion, while North Korean leader Kim Jong-un will not be present at Russia’s Victory Day celebrations, his continued involvement in military operations at home demonstrates North Korea’s commitment to supporting Russia’s efforts in Ukraine. Expectations about his potential participation at the event were high, especially following recent admissions of troop involvement. Overall, the developing military relationship between North Korea and Russia illustrates significant strategic alignment that may influence future geopolitical dynamics.

Original Source: asianews.network