‘Russian version of Rolls-Royce’… top-of-the-line sedan
Our government “violates UN Security Council sanctions”
The car gifted by Russian President Vladimir Putin to North Korean Chairman Kim Jong-un was revealed to be ‘Aurus’ produced in Russia. Aurus is a top-of-the-line sedan, so much so that it is called the ‘Russian version of Rolls-Royce.’
According to the BBC on the 19th (local time), Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed at the regular briefing that day that the car gifted by President Putin to Chairman Kim was the ‘Aurus’.
This car is Russia’s first luxury car brand and is used as a ceremonial vehicle for foreign leaders. It is reported that 12.4 billion rubles (about 179 billion won) were spent on the development and production of this car.
Previously, North Korea’s official Korean Central News Agency reported on the 20th that Chairman Kim Jong-un received a Russian-made passenger car as a gift on the 18th.
The model of the car was not confirmed because North Korean media did not disclose specific information or photos of the car that Chairman Kim received.
Vice-Minister of the Workers’ Party of Korea Kim Yo-jong, who received the gift, said, “Comrade Kim Jong-un’s gratitude to Comrade President Putin was politely conveyed to the Russian side.”
President Putin introduced his Aurus to Chairman Kim during the North Korea-Russia summit at Russia’s Vostochny Cosmodrome in September last year, and Chairman Kim even sat in the back seat of the vehicle himself.
An official from our Ministry of Unification condemned the Aurus car gift, saying it constitutes a violation of UN Security Council sanctions against North Korea.
Lim Soo-seok, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, also said in a regular briefing on the same day, “Regarding President Putin’s recent gift of a car to Kim Jong-un, all UN member states have an obligation to strictly comply with the Security Council resolution on sanctions against North Korea, and the government is closely monitoring the implementation trends of the Security Council resolution. “We will continue to make necessary diplomatic efforts in cooperation with the international community to faithfully implement the Security Council resolution,” he said.
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.