North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is planning a rare trip abroad. For the first time in six years, he will visit China. He’ll be joined by Russian President Vladimir Putin. The visit is to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II in Asia. China is hosting a massive military parade on September 3 to celebrate the occasion. This event is more than just a history lesson. It’s a signal to the world—and especially to the United States—that a new axis of power is forming in Asia.
This visit matters for several reasons. First, North Korea, China, and Russia are all moving closer together. Each of these nations has become more hostile to the West in recent years. North Korea is still building its nuclear weapons. Russia is fighting a brutal war in Ukraine. And China is expanding its military power in the South China Sea and threatening Taiwan. When these three countries meet, it’s not just for show. It’s a message: they are ready to challenge U.S. leadership.
China has long been North Korea’s biggest ally and trade partner. But in the past few years, Kim Jong Un has also built stronger ties with Russia. He has sent weapons—and possibly even troops—to help Russian forces in Ukraine. That’s not just a side issue; it’s a major development. It means North Korea is now playing a more active role in global conflict, and it is doing so in direct opposition to U.S. interests.
Kim’s visit also comes at a time when North Korea is growing bolder with its nuclear program. Since 2006, the country has tested nuclear weapons six times. It continues to build and test long-range missiles that could reach U.S. allies—and even the U.S. mainland. Efforts to stop this have failed. President Trump met with Kim three times during his first term in hopes of slowing down the nuclear threat. Those talks didn’t lead to a deal, but they did open the door for future talks. Now, with Trump back in the White House, there may be another chance to engage. But the current alignment between North Korea, Russia, and China complicates that path.
According to a recent U.S. intelligence assessment, North Korea is in its strongest position in decades. It has the weapons and the alliances to threaten U.S. bases in Asia and possibly the homeland. While Americans are focused on domestic issues, this foreign threat is growing. And it’s being strengthened by China and Russia, two nations that are increasingly united in their opposition to American power.
The military parade in Beijing will showcase China’s advanced weapons and the size of its army. Kim and Putin will be there, standing shoulder to shoulder with China’s leader, Xi Jinping. No American or Western leaders will attend. That absence is telling. It shows just how divided the world has become. On one side, we have the United States and its allies. On the other, we now see an emerging bloc of authoritarian powers—China, Russia, and North Korea.
This isn’t just symbolic. These countries are sharing military technology, intelligence, and resources. They are working together to weaken American influence around the world. For the United States, this is a serious national security concern. It requires strong leadership, clear strategy, and a renewed focus on rebuilding our defense posture at home and abroad.
President Trump has said he’s open to meeting Kim again. That could be an opportunity to break the growing alliance between these dangerous nations. But time is short, and the stakes are high. Americans should pay close attention to what happens in Beijing this September. These military parades and diplomatic visits may seem distant, but they are shaping a world where our freedom, safety, and way of life are being tested.