Photo: Autoblog
North Korean is perhaps the last remaining black ship of the world, despite the recent openness displayed by the country’s leader, Kim Jong-Un. That means sanctions are still in place, meant to punish the dictator into submission. Yet somehow, North Korea manages to circumvent sanctions and Kim Jong-Un still enjoys all the perks of his position.
Earlier this year, as the communist leader was visiting location after location to meet with American and other officials, Kim Jong-Un showed no restraint in using luxury cars to travel in. When he met U.S. secretary of state Mike Pompeo he got out of a Rolls Royce Phantom, and for meeting with president Donald he used an armored Mercedes-Maybach S600 Guard.
These cars should not have been in his possession.
Now, an American non-profit called Center for Advanced Defense Studies (C4ADS) says it might have an idea how these cars and other luxury goods manage to get into North Korea despite the tight noose.
The organization says the country relies on a smuggler network that covers as many as 90 countries, “a much broader scope than previously understood.” This ring helps buy products from the country of origin and then loses them through consecutive shipments to third-party countries, including U.S. allies. Eventually, these goods reach Russia and China, from where they are shipped to North Korea.
Between 2015 and 2018, a total of 800 vehicles managed to find their way into the country via smugglers.
Lexus seems to be the preferred brand of the party and its leader, with the majority of the total: 537 cars from the model ranges GS350, GX460, LS430, LX470, LX570, ES250.
Up next is Toyota, with 66 cars (HiAce, Corolla, Rav4, Hilux, Land Cruiser, Prado, Highlander, Alphard), and Nissan with 43 cars (Almera, Atlas, Patrol, Terrano, X-Trail, Pathfinder). There are also Mitsubishi, Mercedes and Rolls Royce cars that have been shipped to the country.
According to the report, imports of cars originated from four countries across three continents. In the majority of cases, the cars entered North Korea via the Tumangang Rail Station in Rason, while others arrived by sea.
You can have a look at the entire C4ADS report in the press release section attached below.
These cars should not have been in his possession.
Now, an American non-profit called Center for Advanced Defense Studies (C4ADS) says it might have an idea how these cars and other luxury goods manage to get into North Korea despite the tight noose.
The organization says the country relies on a smuggler network that covers as many as 90 countries, “a much broader scope than previously understood.” This ring helps buy products from the country of origin and then loses them through consecutive shipments to third-party countries, including U.S. allies. Eventually, these goods reach Russia and China, from where they are shipped to North Korea.
Between 2015 and 2018, a total of 800 vehicles managed to find their way into the country via smugglers.
Lexus seems to be the preferred brand of the party and its leader, with the majority of the total: 537 cars from the model ranges GS350, GX460, LS430, LX470, LX570, ES250.
Up next is Toyota, with 66 cars (HiAce, Corolla, Rav4, Hilux, Land Cruiser, Prado, Highlander, Alphard), and Nissan with 43 cars (Almera, Atlas, Patrol, Terrano, X-Trail, Pathfinder). There are also Mitsubishi, Mercedes and Rolls Royce cars that have been shipped to the country.
According to the report, imports of cars originated from four countries across three continents. In the majority of cases, the cars entered North Korea via the Tumangang Rail Station in Rason, while others arrived by sea.
You can have a look at the entire C4ADS report in the press release section attached below.
Google News