'Kim Jong-un Maybach' Smuggled into Pyongyang After Touring 6 Countries Over 8 Months

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Eunbyeol] It has been reported that Kim Jong-un's exclusive car, a Mercedes-Maybach S600, traveled through six countries over eight months before arriving in Pyongyang. This vehicle is classified as a luxury limousine item and is banned from export to North Korea under the United Nations (UN) sanctions resolutions.

According to foreign media on the 18th, the UN Panel of Experts on North Korea sanctions report recorded the identification numbers (WDD222 1761A355444 and WDD2221761A356398) of the 'armored Maybach' vehicles. The vehicles were initially purchased from the Italian exterior company 'European Cars & More, S.R.L.'

These vehicles were moved from a German factory to the Italian company in February 2018 and registered in Italy. However, four months later, vehicles with the same identification numbers were loaded into containers at the Port of Rotterdam in the Netherlands. Another Italian logistics company, which had previous contact with North Korea, handled the shipment. The destination was the Port of Dalian in China.

However, the consignee changed twice, and the Dalian port authorities did not approve the transshipment of the vehicles on the ship, according to the UN sanctions panel.

Subsequently, the consignee was changed to a Japanese Osaka company (Zuisyo), and the vehicles were moved back to Osaka. On July 1, the sales contract between the Italian logistics company and the Osaka company recorded a price of 900,000 euros (approximately 1.2 billion KRW) for two 'Mercedes S600 Sedan Long Guard VR 9' vehicles, about 600 million KRW each.

The ship carrying the vehicles arrived at Osaka Port on August 31 but departed for Busan on September 27 due to delays caused by a typhoon. The containers were transferred at Busan Port to the Togolese cargo ship 'DN5505,' which headed for the Russian port of Nakhodka.

The DN5505 departed Busan Port in early October but soon disappeared from tracking. It had turned off its Automatic Identification System (AIS) to avoid detection.

Although the Nakhodka port authorities stated there was no record of DN5505's arrival at that time, the UN sanctions panel estimated it arrived around October 5.

The DN5505 turned its AIS back on October 19. It was en route to Busan Port carrying coal presumed to be from North Korea within South Korean waters.

The New York Times (NYT) and others previously speculated that two Maybach S600 vehicles were transported by air from Russia to North Korea. From the initial purchase in February 2018, the exclusive car of Kim Jong-un was smuggled in by traveling through six countries over a lengthy eight-month period.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.