Unveiling the Secret: How Kim Jong Un Acquired Armored Mercedes for Putin
In an era of stringent sanctions, the world's most influential dictators always find a way. North Korea’s Kim Jong Un, under heavy international scrutiny, managed to secure not one but two Mercedes S 600 Guard models to escort Russian President Vladimir Putin during his visit to Pyongyang.
A Royal Welcome for Putin
For Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit, Kim Jong Un pulled out all the stops. The North Korean leader didn't just settle for any vehicle; he opted for the armored luxury of the Mercedes S 600 Guard. These aren’t the latest models but the formidable W222 series, launched in 2013 with an armored version introduced a year later. The cars first appeared in Pyongyang in January 2019, bringing into question how these luxury vehicles were smuggled into heavily sanctioned North Korea.
The Long and Winding Road: Mercedes' Journey
The intriguing tale of these armored vehicles starts far from North Korean shores. The journey began on June 14, 2018, in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Packed in two containers on a cargo ship, these glamorous rides set sail. After 41 days at sea, they anchored in Dalian, China. Their voyage continued, reaching Osaka, Japan, by September 18 and then sailing on to Busan, South Korea, by September 30. However, the tale takes a turn here; the initially planned logistics were thrown out the window.
A Mysterious Disappearance
The containers vanished after leaving Busan. The vessel DN5505, under Togo's flag, was supposed to leave on September 30 and dock on October 5 in Nakhodka, Russia. However, the ship resurfaced on October 19 with no record of entering any major eastern Russian port. For these missing days, DN5505 operated in a ghost-like manner, its cargo tracking system completely dark. Strangely enough, upon its reappearance, the DN5505 carried 2,588 loose coals from Nakhodka—but something crucial was missing: the containers.
The Airborne Connection
During those missing 18 days between October 1 and October 19, two North Korean Ilyushin-76 cargo planes took trips from Pyongyang to Vladivostok, Russia, and back. These flights were highly covert but efficient, reflecting North Korea’s elaborate yet clandestine operations. These cargo planes, typically used by Kim Jong Un for transporting armored vehicles during his international visits, likely played a role.
The possibility exists that the containers were transferred at sea to a ship named Katrin. Over the years, similar 'ship-to-ship' maneuvers have been spotted, especially in North Korean waters, making this the likely method for transferring the clandestine cargo.
Luxury Under Sanctions
North Korea has been under a strict luxury goods embargo since 2006, targeting the import of high-end items. Nonetheless, loopholes allow these sanctions to be bypassed from time to time. Each Mercedes S 600 Guard costs roughly €450,000, excluding VAT, and stands as a testament to Mercedes' engineering excellence with the highest ballistic protection level VR9 certification. This armored S-Class meets the rigorous ERV 2010 requirements for protection against explosives, including its roof, floor, and sides. It also earns accolades from Germany’s Federal Office of Criminal Investigation.
Mercedes’ Position
Despite these luxury vehicles ending up in North Korea, Mercedes representatives assert that they have had no business relations with Kim Jong Un’s regime for over 15 years. They strictly adhere to US and EU embargoes and employ stringent export control protocols. What Mercedes can't govern is the secondary market, where these previously-driven armored beauties could fall into any tyrant’s hands.
Conclusion
This compelling tale of evasion and luxury showcases Kim Jong Un's relentless pursuit of protected opulence. Through an elaborate and covert operation, he managed to sidestep global sanctions and bring two Mercedes S 600 Guards to North Korea—symbols of his defiant aura and relentless resolve.