Putin-Kim bromance gets a boost as Russian president gifts car to North Korean leader
- The two pariah states have been forging closer ties in recent months amid Moscow’s war in Ukraine and Pyongyang’s ongoing nuclear weapons development
- Putin gifted Kim an Aurus, the Kremlin said, which could violate UN Security Council resolutions that ban the export of luxury goods to North Korea
Kim’s sister “courteously conveyed Kim Jong-un’s thanks to Putin to the Russian side, saying that the gift serves as a clear demonstration of the special personal relations between the top leaders,” KCNA said.
“Security Council sanctions on North Korea prohibit directly or indirectly supplying, selling or moving all transportation vehicles internationally categorised as HS Code 86 through to 89 regardless of their origin to North Korea including luxury cars,” ministry spokesman Lim Soo-suk told a media briefing.
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Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Russia’s RIA state news agency that the Korean leader received an Aurus car.
According to the carmaker’s website, the car is Russia’s first full-size luxury sedan. It is also Putin’s presidential car. In September, while visiting Russia’s space launch station in the far east, Kim inspected Putin’s presidential Aurus Senat limousine and was invited by the Russian leader to climb into the back seat.
Kim himself drove to the site in a Maybach limousine brought on board a special train he travelled in from Pyongyang.
He is believed to be an avid automobile enthusiast and has a large collection of luxury foreign vehicles believed to be smuggled in.
The Kremlin has not denied nor confirmed its use of North Korean-made weapons. North Korea denies the accusation of arms shipment to Russia, which would also be violations of UN sanctions.
On Tuesday, KCNA separately reported that a delegation of North Korea ruling party officials returned from Russia and three delegations, representing information technology, fisheries and sports, departed for Russia.