Putin gifts Russian-made car to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un

Pyongyang [North Korea], February 20 (ANI): Russian President Vladimir Putin has gifted a Russian-made car to North Korean leader Kim Kim Jong Un, showcasing the special bond between the two leaders, Yonhap News Agency reported, citing state media.
The gift demonstrates a “clear demonstration of the special personal relations between the two leaders and as the best one,” Yonhap News Agency reported, citing Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).
Russia has conveyed information about gifting the vehicle to the secretary of the ruling Worker’s Party of Korea and the North Korean leader’s sister Kim Yo-jong. Kim Yo-jong thanked the Russian side for Putin’s gift to Kim Jong Un.
In September last year, Putin showed his presidential Aurus Senat limousine to Kim Jong Un during his visit to the Vostochny spaceport in Russia for the summit. Putin offered him the opportunity to take a seat in the Russian-made luxury vehicle.
It is not known whether Putin’s gift to Kim Jong Un was an Aurus Senat limousine. However, the Russian President’s gift to Kim Jong Un could be in violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions that ban the supply of luxury goods, including automobiles, to North Korea.
Notably, Kim Jong Un has made public appearances in various vehicles – Mercedes-Maybach S-class vehicles, including a limousine, violating international sanctions on North Korea’s nuclear and missile programmes, Yonhap News Agency reported.
Meanwhile, delegations led by senior North Korean government officials in charge of technology, fisheries and sports affairs have departed for Russia, Yonhap News Agency reported citing state media, as Pyongyang and Moscow have been enhancing bilateral cooperation.
Information and Trade Minister Ju Yong-il and other delegates departed from Pyongyang on Monday to attend a global IT forum in Moscow. The Eurasia IT forum is due to be held in Moscow under the theme of “digital sovereignty as the basis for long-term international cooperation,” Yonhap News Agency reported citing its website.
Meanwhile, a delegation, led by North Korea’s Vice Fisheries Minister Son Song-kuk, departed for Russia on Sunday to hold discussions on ways to promote bilateral cooperation in the fisheries sector, Yonhap News Agency reported, citing KCNA. North Korea’s Vice Sports Minister O Kwang-hyok departed for Russia to attend a ceremony to sign a 2024 sports exchange protocol between the two nations. (ANI)