North Korean leader Kim Jong Un receives luxury car gift from Russian President Putin

Amid increasing international scrutiny, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has received a luxurious car from Russia's President Vladimir Putin as a personal gift. The official media reported the event on Tuesday, raising questions about potential violations of the U.N. ban that Moscow had previously adopted against Pyongyang.

The luxurious gift from Putin

The exchange of the Russian-made car occurred after a meeting between Kim and Putin in September, where they pledged to strengthen their ties amidst deepening international isolation. This cooperation has been occurring despite Russia's involvement in the conflict in Ukraine and North Korea's continued development of nuclear weapons. The official KCNA news agency disclosed that the car was delivered to Kim's top aides by the Russian side on Feb. 18, though it did not provide details about the vehicle or its shipment.

Kim's sister expressed her gratitude to Putin for the gift, highlighting its significance in showcasing the special personal relations between the two leaders. This diplomatic gesture has been observed within the context of the increasingly active exchanges between the two countries, which have extended to various sectors including information technology, fisheries, and sports.

Kim's interest in automobiles is well-documented, with the North Korean leader having a notable collection of luxury foreign vehicles, which are believed to have been smuggled into the country. Notably, Kim's fascination with cars was evident during his visit to Russia's space launch station, where he inspected Putin's presidential Aurus Senat limousine and was invited to sit in the back seat. These acquisitions, including several Mercedes limousines, a Rolls-Royce Phantom, and a Lexus sports utility vehicle, raise concerns as they fall under the luxury goods category banned for export to North Korea by U.N. Security Council resolutions.

The delivery of the car from Russia to North Korea raises concerns about potential violations of U.N. sanctions, particularly given North Korea's reported exports of artillery, rockets, and ballistic missiles to Russia for its conflict in Ukraine. Despite these allegations, North Korea has denied any involvement in arms shipments to Russia, a denial that Russia has neither confirmed nor denied.

In a separate report, KCNA announced the return of a delegation of North Korean ruling party officials from Russia, as well as the departure of three delegations representing information technology, fisheries, and sports to the country. These ongoing exchanges further underscore the deepening ties between North Korea and Russia, despite the international scrutiny and sanctions.