More than 50,000 soldiers; China shows its military strength to world, Putin and Kim as chief guests

BEIJING: China conducted a huge military parade showcasing its military prowess, technology, and weapons. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin are the chief guests in the military parade held to commemorate World War II.

The parade, presided over by Chinese leader Xi Jinping, is being held in Beijing. China held the huge parade as a warning amid tensions with the US. More than 50,000 soldiers in uniform participated in the historic Tiananmen Square in Beijing. The parade, which began at 9 am local time, lasted 70 minutes. In addition to Russia, 26 heads of state, including Myanmar, Iran and Cuba, are also participating in the parade.

The North Korean leader rarely makes foreign visits. Kim Jong-un's last foreign visit was to China in 2019 and to Russia in 2023, where he met with Putin. Kim traveled by train with special security measures. The slow-moving train took 24 hours to reach Beijing. North Korea usually sends representatives to participate in Chinese military parades. This is the first time since 1959 that a North Korean leader has been part of a military parade in China.