Key Facts
• On September 3, 2025, Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un met in Beijing.
• Both leaders attended China’s 80th Victory Day ceremony earlier that day.
• The meeting lasted 2.5 hours at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse.
• Putin praised North Korea’s role in liberating Russia’s Kursk region.
• Kim called supporting Russia a “brotherly duty.”
• North Korean soldiers reportedly fought in Kursk during Ukraine’s 2022 invasion.
• Western sources estimate 1,000 North Korean soldiers died in three months.
• A 2024 treaty strengthened Russia-North Korea mutual defense cooperation.
• Xi Jinping hosted the ceremony, with Putin and Kim as key attendees.
• The three leaders walked together at Tiananmen Square during the event.
Summary
Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un met in Beijing on September 3, 2025, following their participation in China’s 80th Victory Day ceremony. The 2.5-hour meeting at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse highlighted the strengthening ties between the two nations. Putin commended North Korea’s military contributions in liberating Russia’s Kursk region, while Kim reaffirmed his commitment to supporting Russia as a “brotherly duty.” The meeting also underscored the 2024 mutual defense treaty, which bolstered cooperation between the two countries. The event was a key moment in the ceremony hosted by Chinese President Xi Jinping, where the three leaders prominently appeared together, symbolizing their alliance.
