North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has concluded his visit to Russia, carrying home a set of unique gifts from his hosts. These presents, including a top-tier Russian rifle, a cosmonaut’s glove, and military drones, are destined for North Korea’s “friendship” museum, which houses gifts received by its three generations of leaders.
The high-quality Russian rifle was bestowed upon Kim following his summit with President Putin, reciprocating with a rifle crafted by North Korean artisans. Putin also presented him with a space glove worn during an orbit.
From the governor of the Primorsky region, Kim received modern, lightweight body armor designed for assault operations. In an unconventional gesture, Kim was gifted five one-way attack drones and a Geranium-25 reconnaissance drone, despite violating UN Security Council resolutions, a move approved by Moscow.
During his inspection of Russian military equipment in Vladivostok, Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu presented Kim with a fur hat.
North Korea’s International Friendship Exhibition, nestled in the Myohyangsan mountains, serves as the repository for such diplomatic offerings, housing an impressive collection of over 115,000 items from more than 200 countries. Established in 1978, this vast exhibit is often compared in scale and significance to the Louvre in Paris.
Among the displayed gifts are items from prominent figures, including former US President Jimmy Carter, French President Francois Mitterrand, and a basketball signed by Michael Jordan, gifted by former US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright. The museum also prominently features South Korean contributions, particularly those related to peace initiatives, and showcases a Hyundai Dynasty sedan donated by Chung Ju-yung, the North Korean-born founder of the Hyundai Group, symbolizing inter-Korean investments following the 2000 summit.
