Despite a struggling economy and international sanctions clamping down on trade, North Korea imported custom-armored luxury cars worth nearly $500,000 each throughout 2019 and kept trying to do so in 2020, according to an unpublished report seen by NK News. 

The report, written by the U.N. Panel of Experts, underscores North Korea's thriving global network and ability to source top-line luxury items for Pyongyang's elite, despite the ongoing U.N. sanctions regime.