Key Facts
• On September 3, 2025, an event marking the 80th anniversary of the “Victory in the Anti-Japanese War” was held in Beijing, China.
• South Korean Parliament Speaker Woo Won-shik attended the event and greeted North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
• Woo and Kim shook hands, marking an unusual interaction amid strained inter-Korean relations.
• Woo previously met Kim during a 2018 inter-Korean summit dinner.
• Woo remarked, “It’s been seven years since we last met,” to which Kim replied, “Yes.”
• South Korea’s Lee Jae-myung administration has shown interest in dialogue with North Korea, but Pyongyang has consistently rejected such efforts.
• Woo also spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who asked what message to convey to Kim during a potential Russia-North Korea summit.
• Woo emphasized the importance of peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula despite current challenges.
• In 2015, then-South Korean President Park Geun-hye attended the 70th anniversary of the same event, but current President Lee Jae-myung declined to attend due to U.S.-South Korea relations.
• Woo’s attendance was seen as a substitute for Lee’s absence.
Summary
In a rare diplomatic interaction, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and South Korean Parliament Speaker Woo Won-shik met and shook hands during the 80th anniversary of the “Victory in the Anti-Japanese War” event in Beijing on September 3, 2025. This meeting comes amid deteriorating inter-Korean relations, with Woo recalling their last encounter in 2018. South Korea’s government has expressed interest in dialogue with North Korea, but Pyongyang remains resistant. Woo also engaged with Russian President Vladimir Putin, discussing peace efforts on the Korean Peninsula. The event highlighted ongoing geopolitical tensions and efforts to foster dialogue despite significant challenges.
