Expensive taste? North Korea caught illegally importing luxury Mercedes cars



News Expensive taste? North Korea caught illegally importing luxury Mercedes cars North Korea is violating sanctions by using advanced smuggling networks to acquire even more rare, custom-armored rides Min Chao Choy August 20, 2020 SHARE COPY LINK FACEBOOK X LINKEDIN MASTODON KCNA Despite a struggling economy and international sanctions clamping down on trade, North Korea imported custom-armored luxury cars worth nearly $500,000 each throughout 2019 and kept trying to do so in 2020, according to an unpublished report seen by NK News. The report, written by the U.N. Panel of Experts, underscores North Korea’s thriving global network and ability to source top-line luxury items for Pyongyang’s elite, despite the ongoing U.N. sanctions regime. In early 2019, the debut of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s two new, shiny Mercedes-Maybach S600 Guard sedans caused a flurry of activity from international investigators, who were able © Korea Risk Group. All rights reserved. No part of this content may be reproduced, distributed, or used for commercial purposes without prior written permission from Korea Risk Group. Get the Daily Update & Podcast Updates Start your day with the North Korea stories that matter most – as selected by Trending

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Expensive taste? North Korea caught illegally importing luxury Mercedes cars

North Korea is violating sanctions by using advanced smuggling networks to acquire even more rare, custom-armored rides

Min Chao Choy August 20, 2020

Expensive taste? North Korea caught illegally importing luxury Mercedes cars

KCNA

Despite a struggling economy and international sanctions clamping down on trade, North Korea imported custom-armored luxury cars worth nearly $500,000 each throughout 2019 and kept trying to do so in 2020, according to an unpublished report seen by NK News.

The report, written by the U.N. Panel of Experts, underscores North Korea’s thriving global network and ability to source top-line luxury items for Pyongyang’s elite, despite the ongoing U.N. sanctions regime.

In early 2019, the debut of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s two new, shiny Mercedes-Maybach S600 Guard sedans caused a flurry of activity from international investigators, who were able