Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim met North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Beijing where the pair were attending China’s Victory Day parade on Sept 3, Malaysian state news agency Bernama reported.

“By chance, I met the leader of North Korea, Kim Jong Un, who was also present to watch the parade at Tiananmen Square. Had the chance to greet and say hello,” said Datuk Seri Anwar on Facebook, accompanied by a photo of the two men shaking hands.

Most comments on the Facebook post welcomed the meeting, with Malaysians praising their prime minister for taking the opportunity to engage Mr Kim.

The two were among 26 foreign leaders attending the

military parade in China

to commemorate the 80th year of Japan’s surrender in World War II.

The encounter marked the first meeting between leaders of the two countries since Malaysia and North Korea cut diplomatic ties in 2021, following the assassination of Mr Kim’s half-brother Kim Jong Nam at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport in 2017.

Then Malaysian-deputy premier Mahathir Mohamad had met North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Il Sung in 1979, laying the ground for bilateral relations between the two countries.

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