It has been revealed that luxury brand Christian Dior and the UN Security Council’s North Korea Sanctions Committee (North Korea Sanctions Committee) have exchanged letters over the authenticity of the bag carried by Kim Yo Jong, the younger sister of North Korean Chairman Kim Jong Un, who is also the Deputy Department Director of the Workers’ Party.
According to the annual report published by the Sanctions Committee Experts Panel on the 20th (local time), the committee and Dior exchanged letters in October and November of last year regarding the black bag Kim Yo Jong was carrying when she visited a Russian fighter factory with Chairman Kim in September. The controversy started when media reports speculated that the bag carried by Kim was a product of Dior, a French luxury brand, based on photos distributed by North Korean media.
In response, the North Korea Sanctions Committee sent a letter to Dior on October 16 last year, requesting verification of the facts. If Kim’s bag is genuine, it would violate the Security Council’s North Korea sanctions resolution, which prohibits the export of luxury goods to North Korea. On November 16 last year, Dior responded, “It is strongly suspected to be our handbag model, but it is difficult to confirm if it is genuine (just from the photo).” The bag in the photo appears to be Sac Lady Dior Large cuir de veau carnage ultra matte noir.” According to Dior, this model was launched in February 2019 and is a best-selling collection in Europe and the United States. Based on the official online store, the price of this product is 6200 euros (approximately $6,900).
In response to the North Korea Sanctions Committee’s questions about Dior’s supply network to North Korea, Dior stated, “We comply with the prohibition on the sale and transfer of luxury goods to North Korea,” and “We do not know the supply network.” In addition, Dior pointed out its limitations in that it cannot wholly control the resale of its products despite its efforts to comply with sanctions.
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