On Wednesday, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin took turns driving an Aurus limousine. The Russian-built vehicle was produced.

Putin's first visit to Pyongyang in 24 years provided an opportunity to showcase their close working relationship and comfort in each other's company during the meticulously choreographed public relations exercise.

The drive took place after the two leaders signed a deal that included a mutual defence pledge, one of Russia’s most significant moves in the Asia Pacific in years and that Kim said amounted to an “alliance”.

Video released by Russian state television showed Putin jumping behind the wheel of the Aurus, the model of his official presidential car back home in Russia. Kim was seen grinning in the passenger seat while they drove around a park with the two men then swapping seats.

One of Putin’s aides said earlier on Wednesday that the Russian leader had presented Kim with an Aurus as a gift.

It would be his second Russia-made limousine.

North Korea’s state media reported in March that Kim had taken his first ride in an Aurus after Putin gave him one of the cars in February.

South Korea’s Ministry of Unification said it had assessed that the gift of the Aurus was a violation of United Nations sanctions over North Korea’s nuclear weapons programme.

Kim is thought to have a large collection of luxury cars including models by Maybach, Mercedes-Benz and Rolls Royce that have been smuggled into the country in breach of the sanctions.