KCNA VIA KNS/AFP
Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, pictured April 25, 2019.
INTERNATIONAL – A gift with great diplomatic weight. North Korean state media announced on Tuesday, February 20, that Vladimir Putin had offered Kim Jong-un a new car. A gift intended to be new evidence of strengthening ties between Russia and North Korea, but which risks violating international UN sanctions.
The model of the vehicle has not yet been determined, but it is of course a Russian production. And it will enrich the North Korean leader's collection, as Kim Jong-un is known for his taste in luxury cars. In recent years it has been particularly observed in Lexus SUVs and Mercedes-Benz S-Class models.
During the North Korean leader's visit to Russia last year, Putin invited him for a ride in the back seat of his Aurus Senat presidential limousine. For his part, the North Korean leader arrived on site in his Maybach limousine, transported by a special train from North Korea.
South Korea denounces “violation of UN sanctions”.
South Korea's Unification Ministry estimated that Moscow's gift to the North Korean leader was a violation of sanctions imposed on Pyongyang in 2017 by the United Nations and also signed by Russia, which targeted all imports of vehicles into North Korea.
“We condemn North Korea for its brazen attitude to publicly expose violations of UN sanctions,” a ministry official, who did not want to be named, told reporters. “Russia must also be aware of its responsibilities as a permanent member of the UN Security Council and put an end to all actions that undermine international norms,” the official added.
A symbol of “special personal relationships”
Kim Jong-un “has been gifted a Russian-made car for his personal use by Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, President of the Russian Federation,” state news agency KCNA reported. Kim Jong-un's powerful sister Yo Jong said the “gift” was clear evidence of the special personal ties between the two countries' top leaders, the North Korean agency added.
Since the North Korean leader's visit to Russia last year, Pyongyang, Russia's long-time ally, has moved even closer to Moscow. For example, earlier this month a group of Russian tourists arrived on a four-day trip. This is the first known foreign group to visit the country since the pandemic-related border closures.
After the September summit between Kim Jong-un and Vladimir Putin in the Russian Far East, the United States and South Korea repeatedly claimed that the North had supplied weapons to Moscow for the war with Ukraine in exchange for Russian aid to North Korea's satellite programs.
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