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The image of Xi, Putin and Kim sitting together was interpreted as a gesture of unity, as it had been more than six decades since the leaders of China, Russia and North Korea had appeared publicly side by side.

Chinese President Xi Jinping met with his North Korean counterpart, Kim Jong-un, in Beijing on Thursday, a day after the latter attended the military parade marking the 80th anniversary of the Victory in the Pacific, marking his fifth official visit to the Asian giant.

Details of the meeting have not been released yet, but both sides are expected to share more information in the coming hours.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry had announced that the meeting would include "issues of shared interest" and reiterated Beijing's commitment to "strengthening strategic communication, expanding exchanges, and consolidating the historic ties of cooperation and friendship" between the two countries.

Kim traveled last Monday to attend the parade held this Wednesday in Tiananmen Square , which marked his first participation in a multilateral event alongside other heads of state.

The ceremony, which commemorated Japan's surrender in 1945, was also attended by Russian President Vladimir Putin and nearly 30 international leaders.

The image of Xi, Putin and Kim sitting together was interpreted as a gesture of unity , as it had been more than six decades since the leaders of China, Russia and North Korea had appeared publicly side by side.

Kim 's presence was also seen as an attempt to mend relations with Beijing, which have been strained in recent years.

According to some media reports, Xi's positioning of the leader at his side has been interpreted as an indication that China may accept the emerging alliance between North Korea and Russia, which includes arms deals and commitments to mutual support in the event of aggression.