In this photo released on March 16, 2024, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un waves as he attends the opening ceremony of the Gangdong Greenhouse.
KCNA | Reuters
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has used Russian limousine Kim Jong Un’s sister said on Saturday that the car was a gift from President Vladimir Putin, praising the car’s “special features” and the two countries’ deepening bilateral ties.
In February, Putin gave Kim a high-end Aurus Senat limousine, which he showed off to the North Korean leader during a meeting with him. russia summit in September.Observers said the shipment Violation of United Nations resolutions It aims to force North Korea to abandon its nuclear weapons program by banning the supply of luxury goods to North Korea.
In a statement released by state media, Kim Jong Un’s sister and senior official said: Kim Yo Jongsaid her brother used the limousine for the first time at a public event on Friday.
Kim Yo-jong said: “Private cars have very complete special functions and are trustworthy.” But he did not elaborate. “Kim Jong-un’s use of a private car as a gift from the President of the Russian Federation is clear proof that the friendship between (North Korea) and Russia is fully developing at a new high level.”
According to Russian state media, Aurus is Russia’s first luxury car brand and has been used in the fleets of high-ranking officials since Putin first used Aurus limousines at his 2018 inauguration.
Kim Jong-un, 40, has a series of foreign-made luxury cars It is believed to have been smuggled into his country. During a visit to Russiahe traveled to and from meetings in a Maybach limousine, which he carried with him Special train carriage. Other luxury cars he reportedly used include a Mercedes-Maybach S600 Pullman Guard and a Maybach S62.
North Korea and Russia have significantly stepped up military and other cooperation over the past year as they respectively face confrontation with the West as North Korea advances its nuclear program and Russia invades Ukraine in 2022.What causes the greatest concern to the outside world is that North Korea allegedly shipped conventional weapons Support the war between Russia and Ukraine and obtain support from Russia’s high-tech weapons technology.
Russia, along with China, has repeatedly blocked attempts by the United States and its partners to impose new U.N. sanctions on North Korea over a series of banned ballistic missile tests.
Separately, North Korean state media reported on Saturday that Kim Jong Un had instructed troops to conduct parachute training the day before. It was unclear whether Friday’s training was the same event in which Kim Jong-un rode in a Russian limousine.
The parachute training is the latest in a series of military exercises overseen by Kim Jong Un in recent days, possibly in response to the annual 11-day military drills. South Korean and US military exercises Ends Thursday. Kim Jong-un views his opponents’ maneuvers as invasion drills.
According to North Korea’s official Korean Central News Agency, after watching Friday’s training, Kim Jong Un ordered the military to conduct more concentrated training in the future to fully prepare for war.Kim Jong Un has made similar demands after recently directing others to Exercises involving tanks, remote artillery and combat soldiers.