As a select group of world leaders are rolling into Beijing for a massive military parade on Wednesday, one made his way there in his signature armored green train: North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
The old-fashioned train has become a symbol of Kim’s dynasty and his secluded nation. It has also long been the subject of intrigue, carrying generations of the Kim family across the country and on rare international trips.
North Korean state media Rodong Sinmun confirmed early Tuesday that Kim’s train had crossed the border into China, with photos of the leader smiling on board the train, sitting at a wooden table with a North Korean flag behind him. He’s accompanied by senior officials including Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui, according to the country’s foreign ministry.
Kim and his entourage arrived in Beijing at around 4 p.m. local time (4 a.m. ET), according to North Korean state media Korean Central News Agency. Photos showed Kim’s daughter walking as part of the group.
They were welcomed by the country’s foreign minister Wang Yi and the mayor of Beijing Yin Yong, among other senior Chinese officials, the agency reported.
