Vladimir Putin, Kim Jong Un take turns driving Russian-made limousine

 

Vladimir Putin, Kim Jong Un take turns driving Russian-made limousine

One of Vladimir Putin's aides said earlier on Wednesday that the Russian leader had presented Kim Jong Un with a Russian-built Aurus limousine as a gift.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un took turns to drive each other around in a Russian-built Aurus limousine on Wednesday after the Kremlin said Putin had gifted one of the luxury vehicles to Kim.

In a carefully staged public relations opportunity held amid tight security, the two leaders used the moment to show how close their working relationship has become during what was a pomp-filled visit to Pyongyang by Putin, his first in nearly a quarter of a century. Their jaunt took place after the two leaders had signed a deal that included a mutual defence pledge, one of Russia's most significant moves in Asia for years that Kim said amounted to an "alliance".

Video released by Russian state TV showed Putin jumping behind the wheel of the black armoured Aurus, which is his official presidential car back in Russia, with Kim getting in the passenger seat.

The car then drives down a winding road through a carefully maintained park and comes to a halt. A South Korean man in a suit and white gloves holds the door open for Kim, and then hurries off to hold it open for Putin.

Putin and Kim then talk as they walk side by side along a forest path, with two men walking behind them, presumably translators. Afterwards, Kim, who is considered an avid car enthusiast, drives Putin back in his car.

One of Putin's advisers said earlier Wednesday that the Russian president had gifted Kim a Russian-made Owl limousine.

Putin gifted Kim his first Aurus sedan in February this year, the two countries said at the time, meaning Putin now owns at least two cars.

The Aurus Senat, designed in the retro style of the Soviet-era ZIL limousine, is Russia's official presidential car, and Putin rode in one of these vehicles to the recent inauguration ceremony at the Kremlin in May.

Putin showed Kim one of the cars during Kim's visit to eastern Russia last September. Kim sat next to Putin in the car and appeared to enjoy it.

Kim owns a large collection of foreign luxury cars, which were likely smuggled in due to UN Security Council resolutions banning the export of luxury goods to North Korea.

He has been seen driving a Maybach sedan, several Mercedes, a Rolls-Royce Phantom and a Lexus SUV.

Aurus Motors began producing cars in Russia's Tatarstan region, about 1,000 kilometres (620 miles) from Moscow, in 2021.

A senior Russian official said last month that Russia would start producing Aurus cars this year at a former Toyota plant in St. Petersburg.