Kim Jong Un Changes Cars While People Starve to Death

North Korean Leader Kim Jong-un was recently spotted in a new personal vehicle, a Mercedes-Benz SUV, causing a stir among the public. However, Mercedes-Benz headquarters has stated that it has not had any business connections with North Korea for far more than 15 years. They have also firmly stated that they would sever ties with any partner company that violated sanctions against North Korea.

Kim Jong-un was also seen in a Mercedes-Benz vehicle during the US-North Korea summit held in Singapore in June 2018, which also caused some agitation. According to a North Korean defector who held a high-ranking position, Kim Jong-un is known for his love for luxury cars and has a collection of expensive cars including Mercedes-Benz and over 100 other vehicles.

The Maybach GLS 600 is priced at 300 million won ($254,000)

On the 15th of last month, a new Mercedes SUV belonging to Kim Jong-un was spotted in the documentary ‘Great Transition, Victory and Transformation of 2023’ aired on North Korean Central TV. The right door of the vehicle is marked with ‘Chairman of State Affairs’, leading to the assumption that it’s Kim Jong-un’s new official vehicle.

Kim Jong-un’s new SUV is revealed to be the latest model of Mercedes, the ‘Mercedes-Maybach GLS 600’, which is the top-tier model among the SUVs produced by Mercedes. The vehicle alone costs around 300 million won ($252,000), and it’s designed to withstand even a grenade attack and chemical gases, equipped with an oxygen supply device.

Boasting a history of 102 years, Maybach was acquired by Mercedes and reborn in 2014 with the release of the ‘Mercedes-Maybach S-Class’ after production was halted due to intense competition. Maybach vehicles require a lot of handwork, with 210 pieces of leather and over 100 pieces of wooden decoration per vehicle. Moreover, the options are so diverse that there can be about 200,000 combinations. In other words, there is not a single Maybach that is completely identical.

Kim Jong-un was seen riding in the ‘Maybach S-Class 1st Generation Sedan’, a vehicle worth at least 300 million won ($252,000) when he took a commemorative photo with participants of the National Mother’s Conference on December 8th last year. This means that just a month after appearing in the S-Class 1st Generation, he changed his car. At the end of last year, when he encouraged the officials involved in the launch of the Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM), he got out of the Maybach S-Class limousine with his daughter Kim Ju-ae. This led to criticism from foreign media about Kim Jong-un’s ‘Mercedes Collection’.

Meanwhile, in a recent interview with Voice of America (VOA), Mercedes headquarters stated that they are thoroughly investigating the acquisition of Mercedes vehicles by high-ranking officials, including Kim Jong-un. They also clarified, “Mercedes has not had a trading relationship with North Korea for over 15 years, and we strictly comply with the sanctions of the United States and the European Union.” They emphasized their stance that they will respond firmly, such as terminating transactions according to the relevant regulations, if a partner company violates the sanctions against North Korea.

While the North Korean leadership enjoys a luxurious lifestyle, reports from foreign media about the suffering of North Korean residents due to severe food shortages are unceasing. It is lamentable that Kim Jong-un is leading such a lavish life while neglecting the starving residents.

By. Sharon Lee