The car that Russian President Vladimir Putin gave to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is a luxury car produced in Russia, the Kremlin said. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov explained at a briefing on the 20th (local time) that the reason for giving the car to Chairman Kim was because he, like many people, liked it. The car, called the Russian version of Rolls-Royce, is Russia’s first luxury car brand and is used as a protocol vehicle for foreign leaders. The design and production of the car is said to cost 12.4 billion rubles (about 170 billion won). The Aurus Senat model is sold in Russia for 40 million to 80 million rubles (about $500,000 to $1 million), depending on options.
Spokesman Peskov made the remarks, noting that when the North Korea-Russia summit was held at Russia’s Vostocini space base in September last year, Putin showed his Aurus sedan to Chairman Kim himself. At that time, Chairman Kim showed interest by sitting in the back seat where Putin was sitting and asking questions to Putin. Then, President Putin let Kim see all other Aurus models. Earlier, North Korea’s state-run Korean Central News Agency reported on the 20th that Chairman Kim Jong-un received a gift from a Russian car on the 18th. Although North Korean media did not release specific information and photos of the vehicle Chairman Kim received, spokesman Peskov confirmed that the vehicle sent as a gift was an Aurus. Putin reportedly used the car as an official car and rode it at the inauguration of the president. Kim Yo-jung, vice chairman of the Workers’ Party, said, “Kim Jong-un politely conveyed his gratitude to Russia to President Putin.” Spokesman Peskov stressed, “North Korea is our neighbor and close neighbor,” adding, “We will develop relations with all neighboring countries, including North Korea.”
EJ SONG
US ASIA JOURNAL
