Putin and Kim Jong Un drove each other in Russian-made Aurus limousine, showcasing closer ties between their countries.
How do luxury gifts impact international diplomatic relationships?
Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un took turns driving a Russian-built Aurus limousine on Wednesday, following the Kremlin’s announcement that Putin had gifted one of the luxury vehicles to Kim. This public relations opportunity, staged amid tight security, highlighted the growing closeness between the two leaders during Putin's first visit to Pyongyang in nearly 25 years. The drive took place after the signing of a significant mutual defense agreement, signaling a deepening alliance between Russia and North Korea.
Video footage from Russian state TV showed Putin taking the wheel of the black armoured Aurus, with Kim as his passenger. The car was seen driving through a manicured park before coming to a stop, where a suited Korean man with white gloves opened the door for Kim and then for Putin. The two leaders were then shown walking and chatting along a wooded path, accompanied by translators. Kim, an automobile enthusiast, later drove Putin back. Earlier this year, Putin had given Kim another Aurus limousine, adding to Kim's collection of luxury vehicles, which include a Maybach, several Mercedes, a Rolls-Royce Phantom, and a Lexus SUV, likely smuggled in despite UN sanctions banning the export of luxury goods to North Korea.
Aurus Motors began production in Russia's Tatarstan region in 2021 and is set to expand production at a former Toyota factory in St. Petersburg. The Aurus Senat, a retro-styled vehicle modeled after the Soviet-era ZIL limousine, is the official Russian presidential car and was used by Putin during his most recent Kremlin inauguration.
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