Kim Jong Un Appears at China’s Victory Day Event Wearing Luxury Accessories
Kim Yo Jong Also Seen Carrying a French Designer Handbag
North Korean State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong Un was seen wearing a Swiss luxury watch as he appeared at the 80th anniversary event of China's Victory Day.
Kim Jong Un, Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of North Korea, and Vladimir Putin, President of Russia, are meeting in Beijing, China. Photo by the Kremlin website
On the 4th (local time), NK News, a U.S.-based media outlet specializing in North Korea, analyzed photos released by the Russian presidential office (the Kremlin) and reported that the watch Chairman Kim wore while embracing Russian President Vladimir Putin in Beijing the previous day is presumed to be the “Portofino Automatic” by IWC Schaffhausen, a Swiss luxury watch brand. According to the official IWC website, the watch is sold for $14,100 (19.66 million won).
Watch worn by Kim Jong Un, Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of North Korea. Kremlin Palace website
Chairman Kim, who studied in Switzerland as a child, is known to have a particular fondness for Swiss watches. He also wore this watch during his visit to Russia in September 2023.
Kim Yo Jong, vice director of the Workers' Party and sister of North Korean State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong Un, was riding in the vehicle with Chairman Kim on the 3rd when he boarded Russian President Vladimir Putin's exclusive limousine, the Aurus, for a separate meeting with President Putin. The bag Kim Yo Jong carried is presumed to be a product of the French luxury brand Christian Dior. Kremlin Palace footage
The Christian Dior bag that Kim Yo Jong, Deputy Director of the Workers' Party of Korea, carried during her visit to Russia in 2023. Photo by Yonhap News
On this day, Kim Yo Jong, Deputy Director of the Workers’ Party, carried a black Lady Dior handbag from the French luxury brand Christian Dior. The price of this bag is said to exceed $7,500 (1.046 million won). Deputy Director Kim also carried this bag during her visit to Russia with Chairman Kim in 2023.
Luxury goods such as these are banned from being imported into North Korea under a 2006 United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolution. Nevertheless, North Korea’s leadership continues to display luxury items at official events, seemingly unfazed by such sanctions.
In March 2023, Kim Ju-ae, daughter of North Korean State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong-un, wore a coat from the French luxury brand Christian Dior while observing the launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). Photo by Yonhap News Agency
In August of last year, Chairman Kim delivered a speech at a flood site with a newly released top-of-the-line Mercedes-Benz SUV from Germany, which had been on the market for less than four months, parked beside him. That same year, Deputy Director Kim also carried a bag from the Italian luxury brand Bulgari when meeting with senior Chinese officials.
Kim Ju-ae, Chairman Kim’s daughter, has also drawn attention for her lavish fashion. In 2023, she appeared in North Korean media wearing a Dior jacket, and was also spotted wearing sunglasses from the Italian luxury brand Gucci.
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