Putin’s Gift to Kim Violates UN Resolutions
- Dec 12, 2024
- 2 min read
By: Rishit Mehley
Russian President Vladimir Putin has recently gifted North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un with a luxury limousine, further strengthening their relationship. This gift was met with global disdain as Russia, an active member of the United Nations Security Council, seemingly broke resolutions that it helped pass.
The Kremlin, Russia’s intelligence agency, stated the car was sent based on Kim's tastes, who had visited Russia in the previous year and had taken a liking to that particular model: an Aurus Senat limousine, one of Russia’s premium luxury cars. Furthermore, the Kremlin stated the nature of the gift; this was a way to “continue strengthening our relationship with our neighbors in the east”. This is troubling news for the West, which has closely monitored their relationship over the last few years. Summits between the two countries and sit-down talks about weapon capabilities have led to a spotlight on them like never before; this is something they seemingly mock with this gift.
In 2006, the UN Security Council passed one of the first resolutions that Russia has now broken. Under Resolution 1718, All member states of the UN are banned from directly or indirectly supplying North Korea with any type of luxury goods and weapons. In 2017, Resolution 2397 reinforced this ban on trade, banning all member states from sending North Korea any vehicles or refined petroleum products. Russian influence on the 2017 resolution led to more lax bans, as they already seemed to have begun building their relationship with North Korea. Regardless, Russia’s presence during the establishment of these Resolutions and their blatant ignorance of them today solidifies their willingness to keep ties with North Korea.
As their relationship grows, UN member states and the West are staying vigilant on any outcomes that can affect ties with both Russia and North Korea.
Works Cited
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