Kim Jong-un rides in Russian-made limo gifted by Vladimir Putin

The North Korean leader attended an event in the Russian-made car, reported to be an Aurus Senat limousine, for the first time on Friday.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un makes a public appearance for the first time riding in an Aurus Senat limousine gifted by Russian President Vladimir Putin to attend a ceremony marking the completion of building a greenhouse farm near Pyongyang on Friday, as seen in a video footage released by the state-run Korean Central Television Saturday. [YONHAP]

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un took a ride in a Russian-made luxury vehicle gifted by Russian President Vladimir Putin for the first time during a public event, in a move his powerful younger sister Kim Yo-jong described on Saturday as further proof of the two countries' friendly ties.

The gift "is clear proof of the DPRK-Russia friendship that is developing in a comprehensive way on a new high stage," the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported on Saturday, referring to the acronym for the North's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

It reported that Kim Yo-jong, vice department director of the North's ruling Workers' Party Central Committee, said in a press statement that her brother "used the Russian-made private car" sent by President Putin as a gift on Feb. 18 "for the first time at an open event on Friday."

Last month, Putin sent a bulletproof car, reported to be an Aurus Senat limousine, to North Korea for Kim Jong-un's personal use.

The North's state media reported that Russia delivered the luxury vehicle to Pak Jong-chon, a secretary of the ruling Worker's Party, and Kim Yo-jong, who stressed that the gift was a "clear demonstration of the special personal relations" between the leaders of the two countries.

Video footage aired by North Korea's state-run television station on Saturday showed leader Kim riding in the black limousine heading to a ceremony marking the completed construction of the Kangdong greenhouse farm near Pyongyang on Friday.

The Aurus was escorted by security vehicles on an empty road, and leader Kim was spotted getting out of the new limousine accompanied by his daughter, Kim Ju-ae.

While Putin's vehicular gift was made public a month ago, this is the first time Kim was seen in the car.

Kim Yo-jong said in the English-language KCNA statement that the "special function of the private car is perfect and can be thoroughly trusted," and said she is "very pleased" that her brother is using the gift sent by Russia.

In September last year, Putin showed his Russian-made Aurus Senat limousine to North Korean leader Kim during a visit to Russia's Vostochny spaceport for their bilateral summit.

The summit, marking Kim's first trip abroad since the Covid-19 pandemic, was an occasion for the two countries to flaunt closer ties, especially as Pyongyang sought Moscow's advanced satellite and missile technologies and Russia needed to replenish its artillery shells amid its war on Ukraine.

However, Putin's gift could have violated UN Security Council resolutions that ban member states from exporting luxury items to North Korea. Furthermore, the direct or indirect supply, sale or transfer of transportation vehicles to North Korea is also prohibited under Security Council Resolution 2397 from 2017.

Russia is one of the five veto-wielding permanent members of the UN Security Council.

Putin is poised to be reelected for six more years as Russia wraps up its presidential election Sunday.

The highlighting of chummier ties with Putin comes as Kim has been struggling to overcome domestic economic difficulties and diplomatic isolation, with a particular blow dealt by an announcement on Feb. 14 of the establishment of formal diplomatic relations by South Korea and Cuba, which traditionally held brotherly ties with North Korea.

Pyongyang is also set to replace its ambassador to Havana after five years.

Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel in a video message shared on X, formerly known as Twitter, said he met with North Korean Ambassador Ma Chol-su on Friday, before he leaves, while stressing the brotherly friendship between the two countries.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, center left, and his daughter, Ju-ae, inspect a military drill of air-borne army units Friday, in a photo carried by its state-run Korean Central News Agency on Saturday. [YONHAP]

The KCNA separately reported Saturday that Russian Ambassador to Pyongyang Alexander Matsegora hosted a reception at the Taedonggang Diplomatic Club on Friday to mark the 75th anniversary of the North-Russia agreement on economic and cultural cooperation.

Pyongyang's state media also reported Saturday that leader Kim, accompanied by his daughter, inspected drills of airborne military units involving paratroopers to be prepared for "surprise wartime circumstances."

The drills come after South Korea and the United States concluded their 11-day large-scale springtime joint military exercise, Freedom Shield, last Thursday.

BY SARAH KIM [kim.sarah@joongang.co.kr]