North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and his sister Kim Yo-jong have once again drawn attention for flaunting luxury European brands during their recent trip to Beijing despite Pyongyang’s own crackdowns on capitalist culture and an international ban on luxury imports.
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According to an analysis by NK News on Thursday, photos released by the Kremlin show Kim Jong-un wearing what appears to be an IWC Schaffhausen Portofino Automatic wristwatch while embracing Russian President Vladimir Putin during Victory Day events in the Chinese capital.
The Swiss timepiece retails for US$14,100 on the manufacturer’s website and has frequently been spotted on Kim’s wrist in recent years, including during his September 2023 visit to Russia.
Kim’s younger sister, Kim Yo-jong, also appeared at the event carrying a black Lady Dior handbag made from lambskin, which is estimated to cost over US$7,500.
The bag is the same model she carried during her brother’s Russia trip in 2023, when other delegation members were also photographed with high-end designer accessories.
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Russian President Putin thanks North Korean leader Kim for sending troops to Ukraine
Russian President Putin thanks North Korean leader Kim for sending troops to Ukraine
Such displays stand in stark contrast to Pyongyang’s official stance. North Korea has long denounced luxury goods as symbols of “bourgeois culture”, with authorities harshly punishing citizens found in possession of them.