Russian President Vladimir Putin presented a car to his North Korean counterpart Kim Jong-un, CNN reported, citing official media. This is another sign of diplomacy between the two countries that is causing concern in the United States.
The Russian-made car for Kim's personal use was delivered by a Russian delegation on Sunday, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Russia's official TASS news agency that the car was an Aurus, the luxury automaker founded in 2018 to produce official Russian state cars.
Kim's sister – and senior Pyongyang official – Kim Yo-Jong thanked Putin on her brother's behalf, saying: “This gift is clear evidence of the special personal ties between (North Korea's) top leaders and Russia,” according to KCNA.
U.S. intelligence officials are increasingly concerned about the long-term implications of what appears to be a strengthened strategic partnership between North Korea and Russia, several officials familiar with the latest intelligence told CNN.
AFP
Russia has repeatedly fired North Korean-supplied short-range ballistic missiles at Ukrainian targets in recent weeks.
Meanwhile, U.S. officials fear that North Korea could use its closer ties with Russia to distance itself from China's influence and thereby lift what some see as significant restrictions on China's nuclear testing program. Pyongyang.
In January, senior North Korean and Russian diplomats met in Moscow ahead of an upcoming visit by Putin to Pyongyang – his first in more than 20 years.
Kim Jong-un visited Russia in September for a summit with Putin, where he endorsed the Kremlin's war on Ukraine and said: “I will always stand with Russia.”
Putin's gift may violate United Nations sanctions imposed on North Korea over its nuclear weapons program, although the ban on the sale of luxury goods to the country has not stopped Kim Jong-un from parading in several luxury vehicles over the years.
The North Korean leader is often chauffeured in an armored Mercedes limousine worth more than a million dollars.
AFP
In 2018, he arrived at a meeting with US officials in a black Rolls-Royce. According to the Washington-based Center for Advanced Defense Studies, two Mercedes armored vehicles were shipped to North Korea from the Netherlands earlier this year, likely for Kim's use.
In addition, Pyongyang imported more than 800 luxury vehicles between 2015 and 2017 alone – most of them from Russian companies.
During Kim's visit to Russia last September, Putin showed the North Korean leader his Aurus limousine.
Former US President Donald Trump also allowed Kim to view the Cadillac presidential limousine, nicknamed “the Beast”, during their talks in Singapore in 2018.