Violation of UN resolutions?
Putin gives Kim Jong Un a car
February 20, 2024, 8:46 a.m
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During Kim Jong Un’s visit to Russia in September, Putin showed him a domestic luxury sedan. Now South Korea suspects that the Kremlin chief gave North Korea’s rulers an Aurus car. However, the import of luxury goods to the authoritarian country is prohibited by the UN.
According to state media reports, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un received a car as a gift from Russian President Vladimir Putin as a sign of their good relations. Moscow handed over the Russian-made vehicle for Kim’s “personal use.” The car was received on Sunday by a secretary of the Workers’ Party Central Committee and Kim’s sister, Kim Yo Jong, North Korean media reported. Kim Yo Jong conveyed Kim’s thanks to Putin and described the gift as a “clear demonstration of the special personal relationships between the two leaders.”
It was not mentioned what brand of car it was. In South Korea it was suspected that the gift could fall under the category of luxury goods and therefore constitute a violation of UN resolutions. Among other things, these prohibit the export of such goods to North Korea. The country, ruled by Kim Jong Un, is subject to international sanctions because of its nuclear weapons program.
North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un visited Russia last September and met President Vladimir Putin. Both decided to expand cooperation in “all areas”, and the cooperation between both countries was then significantly intensified. During the visit had
During Kim’s visit to Russia last September, Putin showed Kim a Russian luxury limousine from the Aurus brand, which also serves as the president’s state car. Since the visit, both countries have significantly increased their cooperation. A UN expert report recently said that North Korea imported significantly more goods in 2023 and expanded its trade with its new partner Russia.
Luxury stores and German cars in North Korea
The US government announced in October that North Korea had sent Russia more than 1,000 containers with military equipment and ammunition for the war in Ukraine. A UN report also speaks of the containers and possible proof of their delivery, citing a high-ranking representative of a “member state”. A satellite image already released by the US government is said to show two ships flying the Russian flag that were transporting containers from the North Korean port city of Rason to Dunai in Russia. These were then taken by train to a Russian ammunition depot near the Ukrainian border. The UN experts emphasize that they cannot verify what was in the containers.
The report goes on to say that sanctioned goods from abroad are increasingly being found in North Korea. There are department stores in several cities that offer Western luxury products. Notice has also been taken of a “significant number of foreign motor vehicles” in North Korea: “An apparently new Mercedes-Benz Maybach GLS 600 SUV and a Maybach S650 sedan were seen in November and December, as seen by Kim Jong Un and high-ranking officials were used.” Designer bags and clothing from the French brand Dior, among others, were also worn by high-ranking government officials.