Reports suggest that preparations are underway for Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to North Korea, with a large structure believed to be a review stand being erected in Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang, according to NK News, a U.S. outlet specializing in North Korean affairs.
On June 1, NK News confirmed the location of the structure through satellite images from the private U.S. company Planet Labs, noting that it is situated in the same area where a temporary stone review stand was installed during Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit in 2024.
The structure was not visible in satellite images taken on May 24, indicating that construction likely began after that date.
NK News reported that the installation of the review stand for President Putin's visit commenced eight days prior to his arrival, while a similar setup for Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko's visit began three days before his arrival in March.
The outlet anticipates that Xi's visit will be comparable in scale to that of President Putin, suggesting that Xi could arrive in Pyongyang in early June.
Additionally, satellite images around Pyongyang International Airport show preparations for accommodating several large aircraft. Specifically, between May 28 and 29, eight aircraft belonging to Air Koryo were moved from the northern parking area of the airport terminal to another section across the runway.
NK News noted that similar measures were taken at the airport nine to ten days before President Putin's arrival in 2024 to accommodate Russian aircraft.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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