ID :
210195
Thu, 09/29/2011 - 09:31
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Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/210195
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N. Korean leader squanders up to $200,000 a year on pets
SEOUL, Sept. 29 (Yonhap) -- North Korea spends up to US$200,000 every year to import pets and their supplies for leader Kim Jong-il and his royal family, a lawmaker said Thursday, the latest sign that Kim's family enjoys a lavish lifestyle despite international sanctions and chronic food shortages.
The North also imported about 10 American Seedoo jet skis between 2009 and 2010 for Kim's heir apparent son Kim Jong-un, said Yoon Sang-hyun, a lawmaker of the ruling Grand National Party, in a report for an annual parliamentary audit of the government.
The junior Kim, a four-star general and vice chairman of the Central Military Commission of the ruling Workers' Party, is being groomed to succeed his father as the country's next leader.
The North Korean leader is also known for enjoying sailing on his yacht along the country's east coast during his summer holiday.
The impoverished country also purchased dozens of Orlov Trotters, a Russian breed of horse, last October for Kim's family, Yoon said, citing intelligence on Kim's family. He did not elaborate on the source of his intelligence.
The National Intelligence Service, Seoul's top spy agency, did not immediately comment on Yoon's report.
The North also bought about 600 bottles of wine from French producer Maison Michel Picard last year, Yoon said, citing the company head. The North Korean leader used the wines for parties with top aides and other ruling elites as part of his move to win their allegiance, Yoon said.
Yoon said North Korea continued to purchase luxury items through the key allies China and Russia, a development that illustrates Pyongyang can skirt U.N. sanctions imposed for its nuclear tests in 2006 and 2009.
The sanctions ban the communist country from trading in weapons of mass destruction, some conventional weapons and luxury goods.
The latest revelation comes as the North is grappling with food shortages that may get worse after devastating floods washed away tens of thousands of hectares of farmland in recent months.
The North also imported about 10 American Seedoo jet skis between 2009 and 2010 for Kim's heir apparent son Kim Jong-un, said Yoon Sang-hyun, a lawmaker of the ruling Grand National Party, in a report for an annual parliamentary audit of the government.
The junior Kim, a four-star general and vice chairman of the Central Military Commission of the ruling Workers' Party, is being groomed to succeed his father as the country's next leader.
The North Korean leader is also known for enjoying sailing on his yacht along the country's east coast during his summer holiday.
The impoverished country also purchased dozens of Orlov Trotters, a Russian breed of horse, last October for Kim's family, Yoon said, citing intelligence on Kim's family. He did not elaborate on the source of his intelligence.
The National Intelligence Service, Seoul's top spy agency, did not immediately comment on Yoon's report.
The North also bought about 600 bottles of wine from French producer Maison Michel Picard last year, Yoon said, citing the company head. The North Korean leader used the wines for parties with top aides and other ruling elites as part of his move to win their allegiance, Yoon said.
Yoon said North Korea continued to purchase luxury items through the key allies China and Russia, a development that illustrates Pyongyang can skirt U.N. sanctions imposed for its nuclear tests in 2006 and 2009.
The sanctions ban the communist country from trading in weapons of mass destruction, some conventional weapons and luxury goods.
The latest revelation comes as the North is grappling with food shortages that may get worse after devastating floods washed away tens of thousands of hectares of farmland in recent months.
