Putin's gift to Kim Jong Un may violate UN sanctions, South Korea suggests
Vladimir Putin, president of Russia, presented Kim Jong Un, leader of North Korea, with the extravagant Russian Aurus limousine, as reported by Reuters. This gesture is believed to signify the strong connection between both politicians. Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin spokesman, remarked that the Aurus Senat had attracted the North Korean leader's attention during his September visit to Eastern Russia.
8:33 AM EST, February 20, 2024
"When the head of the DPRK (North Korea) was at the Vostochny Cosmodrome, he inspected this car. Putin personally showcased it to him. Like many others, Kim was fond of this car," Peskov informed the Russian media. "Given this, the decision was taken. (...) North Korea is our immediate neighbor, and we plan to persist in our relationship development with all neighbors, including North Korea," he further stated.
This gift from Putin could represent a breach of the UN Security Council regulations by Russia, as claimed by South Korea. The sanctions directed at North Korea ban both directly and indirectly delivering, selling, or transferring any vehicles to the country, including luxury cars," according to Lim Soo-suk, a spokesperson from the South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as quoted by Reuters.
Reuters states that the automobile gifted to Kim Jong Un is the first full-size Russian luxury sedan, which also happens to be President Vladimir Putin's chosen mode of transport.
Source: Reuters Agency
