Putin Gifts Russian-Made Luxury Car to North Korea’s Kim Jong Un

Amid deepening ties between North Korea and Russia, Russian President Vladimir Putin has gifted North Korean leader Kim Jong Un a Russian-made car for personal use.

On the 20th, Reuters reported, citing the North Korean state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), that Kim had received a Russian-made luxury car as a gift.

According to the report, the gift was delivered on the 18th to Park Jeong Cheon, the secretary of the Workers’ Party, and Kim Yo Jong, Kim’s sister and vice-director of the Workers’ Party.

Kim Yo Jong praised the Russian gift, saying it was “the clearest proof of the special friendly relationship between the leaders of the two countries (North Korea and Russia), and the best gift.” She also conveyed Kim’s message of gratitude to Putin.

The model of the car Putin gifted to Kim has not been revealed.

However, there is speculation that it could be an Aurus, a luxury car brand from Russia. Putin introduced the Aurus Senat limousine to Kim during his visit to Russia in September last year.

Since 2006, the supply, sale, and transfer of luxury goods to North Korea, directly or indirectly, has been banned under UN Security Council Resolution 1718. Luxury cars are also listed as luxury goods under Resolution 2094, so voices claim that Putin’s gift violates sanctions against North Korea.

However, the sanctions have not stopped the Kim family’s love for luxury goods.

During his visit to Russia in September last year, Kim traveled in a luxury SUV, a Maybach limousine (presumably a Mercedes-Maybach GLS 600), and Kim’s sister carried a Dior handbag.

In addition, Kim’s wife, Ri Sol Ju, has been seen wearing a Dior handbag or Tiffany necklace and Gucci and Versace dresses at public events. Their 10-year-old daughter, Kim Ju Ae, was also spotted wearing a Dior hoodie or fur coat at the site of intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) test launches in March and December last year.