All Episodes

September 5, 2025 4 mins
The biggest news around Kim Jong-un in the past few days is his high-profile presence at China’s Victory Day military parade in Beijing, a major moment not just for photo ops but for North Korea’s place on the world stage. Kim was seen flanked by Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russia’s Vladimir Putin, marking a rare appearance by all three leaders together according to both The World and 38 North. This instantly became one of the most significant public appearances of his 14-year leadership, with ABC News describing it as a transformation from Kim’s “pariah” status to a confident global player. The diplomatic choreography was unmistakable, symbolizing a united front both against the West and in strategic partnership, and setting the narrative for North Korea’s ongoing resistance to international pressure on human rights and its nuclear program.

Inside the talks, Chinese state media reported their discussions focused on deepening strategic ties, economic cooperation, and mutual support on core interests. Kim explicitly pledged unwavering support for China’s positions on Taiwan, Tibet, and Xinjiang, while Xi reaffirmed support for North Korea’s socialist trajectory and endorsed more frequent high-level exchanges. Coverage from outlets like OrcAsia and Norwalk Reflector captured the optics of warmth and unity at both tea and banquet, signaling, at least publicly, a solidification of the China-North Korea relationship even as disputes over Kim’s support for Russia’s Ukraine invasion have reportedly strained ties in recent months.

Business dealings and military ties were also in the spotlight. Defense News reported new manufacturing gains in North Korea’s defense industry, potentially boosting Kim’s arms export ambitions. Russian President Vladimir Putin personally thanked Kim for the support of thousands of North Korean troops and military equipment being used in Ukraine, a move still hotly denied by Pyongyang but confirmed by South Korea’s intelligence agencies and heavily reported by outlets like AOL and NK News. This blending of North Korea’s domestic military achievements with its foreign relationships is significant for Kim’s long-term biography, as it signals a shift from mere survival to active transactional diplomacy.

Speculation and social media rumors following the parade focused on diplomatic seating arrangements, particularly concerning South Korean dignitary Woo Won-shik. However, AFP and multiple newsrooms fact-checked these posts, finding them to be misleadingly cropped and the narratives of Woo's supposed snubbing unsubstantiated.

On social media, Kim’s images with Xi and Putin—broad grins, confident strides, indulgent banquets—were widely circulated by state media outlets and quickly picked up by international correspondents. Although Western leaders were pointedly absent, these staged moments are already fostering commentary about the emergence of a new “axis” and a refreshed narrative for Kim.

No new direct announcements or unverified rumors from North Korea’s own channels have surfaced in the past 24 hours, but the fallout and analysis from Kim’s Beijing engagement will likely play out for months, especially as talks about economic aid, arms exports, and potential nuclear negotiations develop.

Thanks for joining us on this episode of Kim Jong-un Biography Flash. Don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss an update on Kim’s evolving story, and to get more great biographies, just search the term Biography Flash.

Some great Deals https://amzn.to/4mMClBv

For more check out http://www.quietplease.ai
Mark as Played
Transcript

Episode Transcript

Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:10):
The biggest news around Kim jongung in the past few
days is his high profile presence at China's Victory Day
military parade in Beijing, a major moment not just for
photo ops but for North Korea's place on the world stage.
Kim was seen flanked by Chinese President Shi Jinping and
Russias Vladimir Putin, marking a rare appearance by all three

(00:32):
leaders together. According to both the World and thirty eight North,
this instantly became one of the most significant public appearances
of his fourteen year leadership, with ABC News describing it
as a transformation from Kim's pariahs status to a confident
global player. The diplomatic choreography was unmistakable, symbolizing a united

(00:55):
front both against the West and in strategic partnership, and
setting emearrative for North Korea's ongoing resistance to international pressure
on human rights and its nuclear program. Inside the talks,
Chinese state media reported their discussions focused on deepening strategic ties,
economic cooperation, and mutual support on core interests. Kim explicitly

(01:19):
pledged unwavering support for China's positions on Taiwan, Tibet, and
Shinjohn while she reaffirmed support for North Korea's socialist trajectory
and endorsed more frequent high level exchanges. Coverage from outlets
like orc Asia and Norwalk Reflector captured the optics of
warmth and unity at both tea and banquet, signaling at

(01:40):
least publicly a solidification of the China and North Korea relationship,
even as disputes over Kim's support for Russia's Ukraine invasion
have reportedly strained ties. In recent months, business dealings and
military ties were also in the spotlight. Defense News reported
new manufacturing gains in North Korea's defense industry, potentially boosting

(02:01):
Kim's arms export ambitions. Russian President Vladimir Putin personally thanked
Kim for the support of thousands of North Korean troops
and military equipment being used in Ukraine, a move still
hotly denied by Pyongyang but confirmed by South Korea's intelligence
agencies and heavily reported by outlets like A O L

(02:22):
and n K News. This blending of North Korea's domestic
military achievements with its foreign relationships is significant for Kim's
long term biography, as it signals a shift from mere
survival to active transactional diplomacy. Speculation and social media rumors
following the parade focused on diplomatic seating arrangements, particularly concerning

(02:44):
South Korean dignitary Wu Wan Shik. However, ap F and
multiple news rooms fact checked these posts, finding them to
be misleadingly cropped and the narratives of Wu's supposed snubbing unsubstantiated.
On social media, Kim's images with Shei and putin broad grins,
confidence strides, indulgent banquets were widely circulated by state media

(03:08):
outlets and quickly picked up by international correspondents, although Western
leaders were pointedly absent. These staged moments are already fostering
commentary about the emergence of a new axis and a
refreshed narrative for Kim. No new direct announcements or unverified
rumors from North Korea's own channels have surfaced in the
past twenty four hours, but the fallout and analysis from

(03:32):
Kim's Beijing engagement will likely play out for months, especially
as talks about economic aid, arms exports, and potential nuclear
negotiations develop. Thanks for joining us on this episode of
Kim jongun Biography Flash Don't forget to subscribe so you
never miss an update on Kim's evolving story. And to
get more great biographies, just search the term biography flash

(03:57):
and that is it for today. Makes you hit the
subscribe button and never miss an update on Kim Jong un.
Thanks for listening. This has been a quiet please production.
For more check out quite please dot ai or search
the term biography flash wherever you listen quiet, please dot
ai hear what matters
Advertise With Us

Popular Podcasts

Stuff You Should Know
Dateline NBC

Dateline NBC

Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com

The Herd with Colin Cowherd

The Herd with Colin Cowherd

The Herd with Colin Cowherd is a thought-provoking, opinionated, and topic-driven journey through the top sports stories of the day.

Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

Connect

© 2025 iHeartMedia, Inc.