FLASH
Shkruar nga Pamfleti
Russian President Vladimir Putin has gifted a car to his North Korean counterpart Kim Jong Un, another sign of warming relations between the two countries that has raised concerns in the United States.
The Russian-made car for Kim's personal use was handed over on Sunday by a Russian delegation, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Russian state news agency TASS that the car was an Aurus, the luxury automaker founded in 2018 to produce Russia's official state cars.
Kim's sister and senior Pyongyang official Kim Yo Jong thanked Putin on her brother's behalf and said: " The gift serves as a clear demonstration of the special personal relationship between the top leaders of (North Korea) and Russia. " , according to KCNA. .
US intelligence officials are increasingly concerned about the long-term implications of what appears to be a new level of strategic partnership between North Korea and Russia, multiple officials familiar with the latest intelligence have told CNN.
Russia has repeatedly fired short-range ballistic missiles supplied by North Korea at Ukrainian targets in recent weeks. Meanwhile, U.S. officials fear that North Korea may be able to use a closer relationship with Russia to soften China's influence, potentially removing what some believe has been a significant curb on its nuclear testing program. of Pyongyang.
Putin's gift potentially violates United Nations sanctions imposed on North Korea over its nuclear weapons program, although a ban on sales of luxury goods in the country has not stopped Kim from appearing in a range of high-end vehicles over the years .
The North Korean leader is often seen being chauffeured in what is believed to be an armored Mercedes-Maybach Pullman Guard limousine worth over $1 million.
In 2018, he arrived at a meeting with American officials in a black Rolls-Royce. Earlier that year, two Mercedes-Maybach S600 Guard armored vehicles were shipped from the Netherlands to North Korea, likely for use by Kim, according to the Washington-based Center for Advanced Defense Studies.
The center also reported that Pyongyang imported more than 800 luxury vehicles in the 2015-2017 period alone – most originating from Russian companies.
During Kim's visit to Russia last September, Putin showed off his Aurus limousine to the North Korean leader. Former US President Donald Trump also gave Kim a glimpse of the Cadillac presidential limousine nicknamed "The Beast" during their talks in Singapore in 2018./CNN
Lini një Përgjigje