Putin gifts car buff Kim Jong Un a fancy limousine, dagger in visit to North Korea
What does one dictator bent on world domination give another? Limos, tea sets and daggers, of course.
During his first visit to North Korea in nearly a quarter century this week, Russian President Vladimir Putin came bearing gifts for the despotic Kim Jong Un — with the big unveil being a Russian-made Aurus limousine.
Kim — reportedly a major car enthusiast and collector — beamed as he jumped in beside Putin at the wheel of the limo and they hit the highway side by side.
They appeared to be driving through some sort of manicured motor park, and at one point pulled over to switch spots so Kim could take the wheel and peel out.
The car is just the latest in Kim’s collection, which includes numerous Mercedes, a Maybach limo, and a Rolls Royce Phantom, according to the BBC.
In February, Putin gave Kim a first Aurus limousine — the Russian leader’s official presidential car.
Putin also gifted Kim on Wednesday a Russian Navy dagger and a tea set, which Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said was “very beautiful” to Russian state media.
The pair did not play with the dagger, but they do have plans to hold a tea party — though it is unclear if the tea set will be used at the affair.
In return for the gracious gifts, Kim gave Putin some artwork Ushakov described as “very good presents” and “related to [his] image.” The art reportedly included more than one bust.
Kim’s gift to Putin were “rather skillful,” Ushakov told the Russian state news agency, Tass.
Putin was welcomed into Pyongyang with great fanfare on Wednesday, with the two grinning leaders embracing as balloons flew about them, crowds cheered and posters bearing their faces were plastered throughout the city.
A gala is expected to be thrown for the leaders, who met in private for about two hours.
During their meeting, Kim gave “full support” for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, while vowing to strengthen diplomatic ties between the two nations.
Kim is believed to be supplying ballistic missiles to Russia’s war, and it has been speculated the meetings underway could expand whatever munitions arrangement is currently in place.
US and South Korean officials are fearful that in return Russia may be handing over technology to further North Korea’s nuclear program. On Wednesday, both nations signed a mutual defense pact pledging to come to one another’s aid in the face of aggression.
“A new axis of evil in the 21st century is continuing to take shape right before our eyes. The agreement between Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un promising mutual aid if either faces ‘aggression,’ but the world already knows who the aggressors are,” former Vice President Mike Pence told The Post Wednesday.
“As these new alliances form among the enemies of freedom, America must not shrink from our role as leader of the free world. Now more than ever, we must continue to lead the free world against the aggression and threats of tyrannies in Russia, North Korea, Iran and China.”
With Post wires
