On Tuesday, the 20th of February, official media reported that Russian President Vladimir Putin has gifted North Korean leader Kim Jong Un a car for “personal use”. This gesture is a cause for concern, as it could be a violation of the UN ban that Moscow had committed to respect with regard to Pyongyang. Since their meeting in September, Kim and Putin have strengthened ties, pledging to strengthen each other’s country in various areas, reports Reuters.
According to the official KCNA news agency, on the 18th of February the Russian side delivered a Russian-made car to Kim Jong Un’s top aides, with Kim’s sister passing on to the Russian side Kim’s thanks to Putin, saying that the gift was
a sign of the special personal relationship between the two leaders.
South Korea’s foreign ministry said it was closely monitoring cooperation between Russia and North Korea, urging compliance with UN Security Council resolutions.
Ministry spokesman Lim Soo-suk stressed that Security Council sanctions prohibit the direct or indirect supply, sale, or transfer of vehicles, including luxury cars, to North Korea, regardless of their origin.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Russian state news agency RIA that the North Korean leader received an Aurus car.
The car gifted to North Korean leader is Russia’s first full-size luxury sedan, listed on the car manufacturer’s website as Putin’s presidential car. During Kim’s visit to Russia in September, he inspected the car and Putin invited him to sit in the back seat.
Kim is believed to be an avid car enthusiast and to have a large collection of luxury foreign cars, which were probably smuggled in, as all the cars he has been seen with fall into the category of luxury goods banned by UN Security Council resolutions from being exported to North Korea.
North Korea is also suspected of supplying artillery,
rockets, and ballistic missiles to Russia for use in the Ukrainian conflict. The Kremlin has neither confirmed nor denied this, while North Korea denies these accusations, which would be considered yet another breach of UN sanctions.
KCNA also reported on Tuesday that a delegation from North Korea’s ruling party returned from Russia, while three other delegations representing information technology, fishing and sports went to Russia.
Also read: Kim Jong Un finally meets Putin in Russia
Follow us on Facebook and X!