A large structure believed to be a reviewing stand is being installed at Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang amid speculation that Chinese President Xi Jinping will soon visit North Korea.
According to U.S.-based North Korea specialist outlet NK News on Sunday, a video filmed in Pyongyang on May 26 by Singaporean Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan, who recently visited North Korea, shows a barrier surrounding a large structure at the front of Kim Il Sung Square, with a mobile crane positioned next to it.
"We confirmed the location of the barrier through satellite imagery from U.S. commercial satellite operator Planet Labs," NK News said. "It is the same spot where a temporary stone reviewing stand was installed during Russian President Vladimir Putin's 2024 visit to North Korea." The barrier was not visible in satellite imagery from May 24, suggesting that installation work began after that date.
NK News reported that "preparations for the reviewing stand began eight days before Putin's visit, and three days before Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko's visit in March," adding, "Xi appears likely to visit Pyongyang soon, and the scale is expected to be closer to that of Putin's visit."
However, given the current schedules of Xi and China's top diplomat Wang Yi, a member of the Politburo of the Chinese Communist Party and foreign minister, a visit in early June appears difficult, according to local observers.
According to China's state-run Xinhua News Agency, Lao President Thongloun Sisoulith will make a state visit to China from June 2 to 6 at Xi's invitation. British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper will also visit China from June 1 to 3, and Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira is also scheduled to visit China soon.
Satellite imagery of the area around Pyongyang's Sunan International Airport also shows space being cleared to accommodate multiple large aircraft. Between May 28 and 29, eight Air Koryo aircraft were observed moving from the apron north of the airport terminal to another area across the runway. Similar measures were taken at Sunan International Airport nine to 10 days before Putin's visit in 2024 to accommodate Russian aircraft.
U.S. weekly news magazine Time reported on May 20, citing anonymous sources, that "Xi is expected to make a state visit to North Korea soon." A senior South Korean government official also confirmed the possibility of the visit, saying, "We have information that Xi will soon travel to North Korea."
