North Korea’s Kim Jong Un crossed border into China via train, state media says

SEOUL – North Korean leader Kim Jong Un crossed the border into China on his special train early on Sept 2 to attend China’s celebration of the formal surrender of Japan in World War II, North Korean state media said.

Mr Kim left Pyongyang for China on Sept 1 and crossed into China early on the morning of Sept 2, North Korea’s state newspaper Rodong Sinmun reported.

Mr Kim is expected to arrive in Beijing on the morning of Sept 2.

South Korea’s Yonhap news agency said on Sept 1 that Mr Kim left Pyongyang by train to attend the military parade in China, citing an unnamed source familiar with North Korean matters. 

Rodong Sinmun showed pictures of Mr Kim with his entourage, such as Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui, standing outside and smiling from inside the dark green special train, which appeared to be similar to the bulletproof train he has used before to travel to other countries such as China and Russia. 

Before crossing into China, Mr Kim on Sept 1 visited a missile laboratory that is researching carbon fibre composite materials to be used in engines for intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), state media KCNA said.

“Maximum propulsion of the new solid-type engine using carbon fibre composites is 1,960 kN, planned to be used in the intercontinental ballistic missile ‘Hwasong-19‘ series and the next-generation ... ‘Hwasong-20‘,” KCNA said on Sept 2.

Meanwhile, North Korea on Sept 1 expressed support for remarks made by Chinese President Xi Jinping at a summit calling for fairer global governance, adding that cooperation between North Korea and China will grow to pursue such a value, according to a vice foreign minister in comments posted on the North Korean foreign ministry’s website.

Mr Xi on Sept 1 pressed his vision for a new global security and economic order that prioritises the “Global South”, in a direct challenge to the United States, during a summit that included the leaders of Russia and India. REUTERS