In a carefully staged public relations opportunity, Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un took turns driving each other around in a Russian-built Aurus Limousine on Wednesday. Amid tight security, the two leaders used the occasion to show how close their working relationship was during a pomp-filled visit to Pyongyang, his first in nearly a quarter of a century.
This was held after the two 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”
In a video released by Russian State TV, Putin was seen in the driver’s seat of the armoured Aurus, his official presidential car back in Russia, with Kim getting in the passenger seat. The car is shown driving along a road that winds through a manicured park before coming to a stop.
Kim and Putin were also seen walking side-by-side while chatting in a wooded area with two, presumably translators, walking behind them. Following this, Kim, who is believed to be a keen automobile enthusiast, is seen driving Putin back.
On Wednesday, Putin’s aides said he had presented Kim with a Russian-built Aurus limousine as a gift. In February last year, Putin gave Kim his first Aurus limousine, and now the North Korean leader, owns two of these cars.
According to Reuters, Aurus Senat is retro-styled, after the Soviet-era ZIL limousine. It is the official Russian presidential car, Putin rode in one to his most recent Kremlin inauguration ceremony in May.
Kim has a large collection of luxury foreign vehicles that were likely smuggled in since the United Nations Council resolutions banned the export of luxury goods to North Korea. He has been spotted in a Maybach limousine, several Mercedes, a Rolls-Royce Phantom and a Lexus sports utility vehicle.