Kim Jong Un, the North Korean Chairperson, and his younger sister Kim Yo Jong, a Deputy Chairperson of the North Korean Labor Party, were photographed wearing expensive Western luxury items during their visit to China for the country's Victory Day celebrations and parade, according to U.S. North Korea specialist media outlet NK News. This starkly contrasts with the reality in which North Korean authorities label expensive foreign goods as 'bourgeois luxury' and enforce strict regulations against them.
NK News noted on the 4th (local time) that an analysis of photos released by the Kremlin revealed that the wristwatch Kim wore while embracing Russian President Vladimir Putin was presumed to be a Portofino Automatic from the Swiss luxury watch brand IWC Schaffhausen. The current official price of IWC is $14,100, which is approximately 20 million won.
Kim has a deep connection to Switzerland, where he stayed during his studies, and is said to have a special affection for watches. In fact, he was also spotted wearing the same watch during a visit to Russia in 2023.
Kim's sister Kim Yo Jong also appeared at the event carrying a medium-sized 'Lady Dior' bag from French luxury brand Christian Dior, valued at around 10 million won. She used the same product during her visit to Russia in 2023.
The luxury taste of the 'Paekdu bloodline' has extended even to Kim's daughter, Ju Ae. Last year, she was seen wearing Gucci sunglasses, and scenes of her wearing a Tissot watch (approximately 600,000 won) and a Cartier watch (approximately 30 million won) were also captured.
The issue is that despite the United Nations Security Council having fully banned the import of luxury goods since 2006 due to sanctions against North Korea, such luxury items continue to flow steadily into the country. North Korea has been prohibited from importing foreign luxury items since the UN Security Council sanctions resolution against North Korea was passed shortly after its first nuclear test in 2006. It is known that the North Korean leadership secures expensive luxury items through smuggling via China and Russia, utilizing a secret organization known as 'Office 39.'
NK News pointed out that 'the display of luxury items by the Kim family is directly opposed to the control of describing foreign luxury goods as 'bourgeois culture' to the North Korean people.'
The Kim family's affection for luxury goods has persisted since the first and second generations. Kim Il Sung frequently wore an Omega watch and presented some with engravings as gifts to high-ranking officials. Kim Jong Il was known to indulge in extravagant luxuries, collecting Omega watches, French cognac, around 160 Mercedes-Benz vehicles, and tens of thousands of bottles of wine.