June 02, 2023
Analysis

Coasting by sanctions? A first look inside Kim Jong Un’s luxury Toyota tour bus

New North Korean TV documentary reveals interior shots of Toyota Coaster bus likely customized in China

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un imported a luxurious Toyota Coaster bus likely customized in China, NK News analysis of footage aired during a new state TV documentary shows, providing more clues about possible sanctions-busting trade networks.

A short clip in the film shows Kim seated in a plush chair inside the bus in front of a desk fitted with a pop-up TV screen, with his top officials behind him, during an Oct. 2020 tour of flood damage in the northern Komdok region.