Russia’s President Vladimir Putin has gifted North Korean leader Kim Jong Un a luxury Russia-made car for his personal use, the Associated Press reported.
Russia’s state news agency Tass was quoted by CNN as describing the car as an Aurus, a luxury company founded in 2018 to produce vehicles for leading government officials. Kim’s sister, Kim Yo Jong, and another North Korean official accepted it on behalf of Kim Jong Un.
“Kim Yo Jong courteously conveyed Kim Jong Un’s thanks to Putin, to the Russian side, saying that the gift serves as a clear demonstration of the special personal relations between the top leaders of the DPRK and Russia and as the best one,” state-run Korean Central News Agency said.
Kim is said to possess various high-end luxury cars and has been spotted travelling in the Mercedes-Maybach S600, Rolls-Royce Phantom and Lexus LX 570.
The gift has confirmed the worst fears of the West about the growing convergence between Pyongyang and Moscow. Kim had travelled to Moscow for a summit with Putin in September 2023. There are reports of the north sending supplies of weapons and ammunition to Russia for use in Ukraine, in return for food and other assistance.
Over the past few months, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has upped his ante with moves aimed at flaunting its military might including doing more missile tests, tearing down a monument in Pyongyang that symbolised the hopes of unification among others.
Earlier, he has said that PyongYang has the legal right to annihilate South Korea.The remarks came at the anniversary of the founding of North Korea’s military on February 8
Describing Seoul as “enemy No.1,” Kim said that he would never hold dialogue or negotiations with South Korea and that the only way there can be lasting peace in the region is when the powerful military in the North is ready for any eventuality.
The South Korean government led by Yoon Suk Yeol believes that North Korea will be trying to raise its profile ahead of elections which are due in April this year.
