By Jemma’s crew, BBC News
EPAA Russian-made limousine, a tea set and works of art are among the gifts exchanged by Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korea’s Kim Jong Un.
Mr Putin was welcomed to North Korea with a lavish ceremony marking his first visit to the country in almost a quarter of a century.
He was greeted with smiles and hugs from leader Mr Kim, while stallions, balloons and huge posters of the two leaders adorned surrounding buildings in Pyongyang, with a tea party and gala concert to come.
Mr. Putin, who spent about two hours speaking one-on-one with Mr. Kim, presented the North Korean leader with a luxury Aurus limousine, Russian state media reported, citing the Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov.
The two heads of state were pictured taking a spin in an Aurus, with Mr Putin at the wheel – but it was not clear whether this was the newly gifted car.
Last February, Mr Putin gifted Mr Kim another Russian-made Aurus – a sedan of the type used by the Russian leader himself. It was delivered to North Korea in violation of UN sanctions.
Mr Kim is believed to be a car enthusiast and has a collection of luxury foreign vehicles. It is not known which model of Aurus was offered to him this time.
He was seen in a Maybach limousine, several Mercedes, a Rolls-Royce Phantom and a Lexus sport utility vehicle.
EPAThe Russian leader also reportedly gave Mr Kim a tea set and an admiral’s dagger.
Mr Ushakov said the tea set was “very beautiful”, according to the Russian news agency Tass.
Meanwhile, the aide says Mr. Putin received “also very good gifts.”
He said they included works of art, which he said were “related to the image” of the president, including busts.
Mr. Ushakov said they were all “pretty clever,” Tass reported.
GettyThis show of unity comes at a time when both countries face international isolation.
Ties between the two states have intensified in recent years, particularly since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
North Korea is believed to be supplying Russia with artillery, rockets and ballistic missiles for the war, despite international sanctions imposed on both countries.
Both sides deny violating sanctions.
During their talks, Mr. Putin thanked Mr. Kim for his “constant and unwavering support for Russian policies, including in the Ukrainian direction.”
Mr Kim said relations between the two countries were “entering a period of new flourishing”, calling Russia North Korea’s “most honest friend”.
They signed an agreement to help each other in the event of “attack”.
The two last met in September, when Mr Kim visited the Vostochny cosmodrome in Russia’s Far East. It was his first trip abroad in four years.
During that visit, he inspected Mr. Putin’s Aurus Senat limousine and was invited to sit in the back seat. They also exchanged weapons as gifts.
Mr Putin invited Mr Kim to Moscow for their next meeting.
