Satellite images show Kim Jong Un's waterslide yacht in action, while North Korea struggles with famine and COVID-19

  • Satellite images caught the movements of Kim Jong Un's luxury yacht.
  • North Korea is undergoing food shortages and struggling with the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • The amusement-park-themed yacht can be a good indicator of Kim's whereabouts, NK News reported .

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Kim Jong Un's 260-foot luxury yacht has been spotted moving toward his private compound as North Korea struggles with famine and COVID-19. 

Satellite-imaging company Planet Labs captured pictures of the yacht, as well as a second 200-foot yacht, moored at the private beach near Kim's palace at Wonsan on July 12.

The images were published by the South Korean outlet NK News , which marked up the images on its website. The weather around Wonsan in July is warm, and the temperature on Tuesday was 86 degrees Fahrenheit.

A tweet from May about the yacht's movements included an image of the yacht.

—NK NEWS (@nknewsorg) May 26, 2021

The larger of the yachts is constructed as a floating amusement park, with a double waterslide, an Olympic-size pool, and a multistory lounge, the outlet reported. 

It is unclear who is using the luxury boats, which have been lent to friends and family in the past.

Related stories

The yachts' movements coincide with days the leader did not make public appearances and can be a reasonably reliable indicator of his movements, NK News reported. 

In April last year, during an extensive withdrawal from public view, Kim's 200-foot yacht was spotted moving around the same spot.

Less than a month ago, Kim made a rare announcement. He said there was a "tense" situation with North Korea's food supply , which he attributed to typhoons in the past year. Food prices have skyrocketed, prompting one UN official to propose lifting sanctions in order to prevent mass starvation, Reuters reported . 

The country also recently hinted at a COVID-19 surge, after Kim reshuffled his senior officials , blaming them for a "great crisis" in their response to the pandemic.

North Korea does not release COVID-19 data, and it's long said that it's free of the virus, but reports from outside the country suggested that there have been surges in the past year .

The country has been sluggish in attempting to access vaccines, despite being entitled to 2 million doses through the UN's COVAX scheme, Voice of America News reported . 

US and South Korean officials said that it's plausible that Kim used the resort to shelter from the virus in May last year, Sky News reported .

Kim is a heavy smoker , a high risk factor in complications for COVID-19. 

Watch: Inside Kim Jong Un's secretive childhood and family

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Trappings of North Korean leader’s lavish lifestyle visible by satellite

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Bruce Songhak Chung is the deputy director of the Geo Satellite Information Research Institute at Kyungpook National University in South Korea. Using Google Earth, he identified as many as 30 luxury villas and several private islands used by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and his family on vacation. He also spotted a fleet of five supersize yachts, one of which has a four-lane, Olympic-sized swimming pool.

The extravagance of the Kim family lifestyle is a stark contrast to the living conditions of the majority of North Koreans, who struggle to make ends meet in an economy devastated by international sanctions and a lengthy trade pause with China due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The sanctions, imposed in response to North Korea’s nuclear ambitions, are supposed to prevent imports of luxury goods into the country, but, as Chung’s research shows, they have not prevented the first family from continuing to live the high life. 

Chung recently presented his findings to RFA’s Korean Service. The interview has been edited for length and clarity.

RFA: How many of Kim Jong Un’s luxury villas have you identified through satellite images?

Chung: There are 20 to 30 exclusive luxury villas in North Korea used by the family of General Secretary Kim Jong Un. Among them, General Secretary Kim is particularly fond of his villa in Wonsan, Kangwon province, his hometown. The Wonsan facility, as seen from the satellite images, is equipped with luxurious cruise ships, a marina, a horse-riding range, a shooting range, a water play area and many other splendid entertainment facilities. In 2013, Dennis Rodman, a former basketball player from the United States, was invited there twice, in February and September, as Kim showed off his luxurious pleasure facilities.

North Korean leader’s villa in Wonsan, as well as one of his yachts, can be seen in this January 2022 image. Credit: Maxar Technologies

RFA: What does the Wonsan facility look like in the latest satellite imagery? What facilities can you see?

Chung: There is a long, soft, white sand beach in front of the Wonsan villa. The sandy beach is famous for its outstanding scenery. His father, [former leader] Kim Jong Il, also enjoyed fishing and swimming here. The length of the white sand beach is 530 meters (0.3 miles), and there about 10 large and small villas located on the beach, and they have good views. If you look at the satellite image taken in January 2022, you can see the 50-meter (164 ft) long cruise ship with a blue roof in front of the villa. In front of the beach, you can also see a building where Secretary Kim had lunch with Rodman. The walking trails and gardens are well maintained. At a glance, you can tell that it is a large-scale villa complex.

RFA: You also were able to identify Kim Jong Un’s cruise ships. Is it true that one of them has an international standard-sized swimming pool and a waterslide?

Chung: Yes, General Secretary Kim owns luxurious cruise ships. We identified four cruise ships so far at the Wonsan villa. The lengths of cruise ships are 50, 55, 60 and 80 meters (262.4 feet). Besides these, he owns many smaller luxury boats. On the deck of the 80-meter cruise ship, we can see a 2.5-meter wide pool that has four 50-meter lanes. That makes international standard size and four people can compete at the same time. We can also see four circular slides. Recently, the 55-meter long cruise ship has been refurbished. Its roof deck has been expanded from 20 meters to 40 meters and freshly painted.

Three of Kim Jong Un’s yachts can be seen at the port of Wonsan in this Dec. 2019 image. Credit: CNES/Airbus

RFA: Was it confirmed that one of Kim’s luxury cruise ships disappeared?

Chung: Yes. So far, a total of five luxury cruise ships have been identified in the satellite images. One of them has now been retired, and only four remain. That one was 60 meters long and nine meters wide, and it disappeared in November 2017. According to foreign media reports, the cruise ship had reached the end of its lifespan and it was dismantled and decommissioned. General Secretary Kim's cruise ships were all generally introduced in the 1990s. Each ship’s life expectancy is estimated to be about 30 years.

RFA: Has anything in these luxury ships violated U.N. sanctions against North Korea? Do we have any satellite evidence of sanctions violations?

Chung: I believe that these cruise ships were introduced in the 1990s under Kim Jong Il. The U.N. sanctions against North Korea were implemented from the mid-2000s because of North Korea's continuous missile and nuclear tests. Therefore, these cruise ships must have been introduced before that. Luxury goods are prohibited items from trade with North Korea by U.N. sanctions, but North Korea secretly purchases luxury items such as cars, boats and expensive whiskey, so they seem to be able to find a way to purchase these items.

ENG_KimsYachts_10222022_gfx04.jpg

RFA: After Rodman visited the area, he had a lot to say about some of the surrounding islands. Are they visible on the satellite photos as well?

Chung: There are three beautiful islands. Their names are Sa-do, Tongdok-do and Chon-do. Each island has ship berthing facilities and their own villas too. Rodman, who visited North Korea twice in 2013, said in an interview with The Sun, a British daily, that the luxury villa on one of those islands was like a seven-star luxury hotel. If you look down on the island, the villa is situated in a forested area. Rodman said it was more fantastic than a luxury vacation in Hawaii or Spain. Even the richest people in the U.S. would not have been able to enjoy such luxury. I can't imagine how big the interior [of the villa] is. However, if you look at the satellite image, you can see that each island has well-established recreational facilities and is well organized.

RFA: Kim Jong Un's villas, luxury cruise ships and fantasy islands seem to be a grave departure from the lives of ordinary North Koreans today. Would you agree?  

Chung: I have analyzed Kim's villas and luxury cruise ships for a long time. They are always kept in pristine condition. I believe a lot of resources and money go into maintaining them. The villas and cruise ships of the Kim family are so splendid that ordinary residents cannot even imagine [what they are like]. On the other hand, I heard that North Koreans who do not know anything [about the resorts] are worried about General Secretary Kim, saying ‘Our great leader worries about the people so much that he suffers in sacrifice by eating only rice balls and sleeping for just a few hours [each day].’ I feel scared of how propaganda works so well for Kim that North Koreans idolize him to the extent that they do.

Translated by Claire Shinyoung Oh Lee and Leejin J. Chung. Written in English by Eugene Whong.

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Welcome aboard Kim Jong Un’s party boat

It has waterslides. yes, plural.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un watches a military parade.

By Aspen Pflughoeft

Relaxing aboard a luxury yacht seems like a far-off dream for many of us — not so much for North Korea ’s Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un .

  • Recent reports and satellite imagery show that the dictator may be enjoying his luxury yacht for the first time in multiple years, reported The New York Post .
  • The party boat was spotted near Kim’s Wonsan mansion compound along the eastern coast of North Korea earlier this week, reported NK News .

What is Kim Jong Un’s party boat like?

Kim’s Princess-brand luxury yacht is decked out with twin twisting waterslides, an Olympic-size swimming pool and a multistory lounge, per NK News.

  • The party boat is 260 feet long and recently underwent repairs and a remodel, according to The New York Post .
  • NK News described the yacht as a “ floating amusement park. ”

The yacht was last seen at the Wonsan mansion in 2019 but returned to the mansion this week. The ship’s arrival coincided with days that Kim did not make any media appearances, reported The New York Post.

  • The timing suggests that Kim has been “ chilling out ” on the yacht or possibly recovering from sickness since the dictator has reportedly lost some weight recently, said The New York Post.
  • The “ famously reclusive and rotund ” leader has lost up to 44 pounds recently, according to The New York Post. Kim’s sudden slimness has fueled speculation about his health and his potential successor, who remains unnamed.

Kim’s family, friends or other trusted associates could be at the Wonsan mansion, which has previously hosted guests, per NK News.

  • Another smaller boat was docked at Kim’s Hodo Peninsula palace in early July. This palace is 10 miles up the coast from the Wonsan mansion, reported The New York Post.

What’s going on in North Korea?

While the leader of North Korea may be relaxing, the rest of the country does not have that luxury. Conditions in the country have seemed increasingly concerning in recent weeks, reported The New York Post.

  • The country is facing a food shortage due to failed crops, international sanctions and a strict COVID-19 lockdown, reported the Deseret News .
  • North Korea has continued to claim that it has zero coronavirus cases. However, last month, Kim admitted that the country faced a “ grave incident ” related to the pandemic, per Deseret News .

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Kim jong un reportedly enjoys revamped party boat with waterslides amid nation’s woes.

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A slimmed-down Kim Jong Un may have been relaxing on his remodeled yacht, complete with twin waterslides and an Olympic-size pool, as North Koreans grapple with famine and a prolonged COVID-19 lockdown.

The leader, who reportedly has shed up to 44 pounds, was believed to be at his mansion in Wonsan, where his “floating amusement park” was spotted on the private beach, NK News reported .

The 260-foot-long vessel, which also features a multistory lounge, was confirmed to be docked at the site Monday for the first time since 2019, according to the news outlet, which cited imagery from Planet Labs.

The activity in and around Wonsan took place on days Kim did not make public appearances, suggesting that he has been chilling out or possibly recuperating from an ailment in recent days, NK News said.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un speaks at the 8th Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea in Pyongyang.

While it’s possible Kim was present, a day after he reportedly met with his favorite band in Pyongyang, the activities also could have involved his children, close relatives or trusted associates using the boat and mansion, the outlet noted.

In addition, a smaller boat was docked at a private beach at Kim’s Hodo Peninsula palace located about 10 miles up the coast from the main Wonsan compound on July 6 and 7, according to NK News.

Map of peninsula

The waterslide pleasure craft recently underwent major repairs and a remodeling job that included expansion of the multistory lounge.

The vessel also appeared on May 24 when it was towed from its private parking spot in the Wonsan bay toward Kim’s main Wonsan mansion, but there was insufficient imagery to determine its final destination, according to the report.

In the last week, Kim’s Hodo Peninsula palace appeared to have had visitors on July 6 and 7.

Recent images of the famously reclusive and rotund leader, who previously weighed 308 pounds, appeared to show that the 37-year-old has lost a large chunk of weight , sparking renewed speculation about his health.

Kim’s health is the focus of considerable global attention as he hasn’t publicly anointed a successor who could take charge of the Hermit Kingdom’s advancing nuclear arsenal targeting the US and its allies if he is incapacitated.

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North Korean leader Kim Jong Un speaks at the 8th Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea in Pyongyang.

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Kim Jong Un's Princess Motor Yacht

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Apr 29, 2020

Kim Jong Un’s 95 Foot Princess Motor Yacht

Kim Jong Un's Princess Motor Yacht

The Dictator of North Korea, Kim Jong Un, has a luxurious yacht he keeps off the coast of his Wonsan resort. The image of a luxury yacht in North Korea might take some by surprise, given that the UN Security Council blocked the sale of ‘luxury goods’ to North Korea in 2006 with Resolution 1718. Despite this, individual member states were able to independently determine what constituted a ‘luxury good’ and a lot of trade, therefore, continued.

Princess Yachts , the manufacturer of the 95MY, belongs to the luxurious LVMH group that owns Louis Vuitton, Moet Chandon, Christian Dior and over 60 other brands with a reputation for luxury and, above all, expense.

NK News valued the beautiful Motor Yacht at $7 million dollars in 2013. A spokesperson for Princess Yachts, , a part of the luxury LVMH group, told NK News that as the boat had not been produced for several years, it was likely bought on the secondary market.

“The expansive flybridge deck, generous staterooms and full width saloon and dining area can accommodate up to ten people in elegant style; taking the pleasures of extended life on-board to an entirely new level,” a Princess 95MY brochure reads.

Here are some photos of the yacht via Princess’ website:

Kim Jong Un's Princess Motor Yacht

In recent news…

Kim’s disappearance from the public has many people wondering if he is dead or alive after his heart surgery. He has not made a public appearance since April 11, 2020. According to satellite imagery by NK, Pro, North-Korea’s-monitoring website, the boats made unusual movements around April 14. Which may suggest the dictator himself or his entourage is located in the vicinity.

Kim’s compound in Wonsan, a city of some 360,000 on the country’s east coast, is lined with guest villas and includes a private train station, according to experts and satellite imagery. Also, his boathouse, which covers the 95 MY Princess. “It’s one of his favorite houses,” Michael Madden, a North Korea leadership expert at the US-based Stimson Center, told the news outlet, adding that Kim is believed to have about 13 large compounds around the country.

The North Korean Dictator has tried before to infringe on UN sanctions on the procurement of “luxury goods” back in 2009 when Italy stopped the export of two locally manufactured Azimut Yachts. The Austrian national who brokered the deal was fined by the UN, and Italian financial authorities auctioned the seized yachts.

Sources: Business Insider: “Sweet Pictures Of The Luxury Yacht Allegedly Owned By Kim Jong Un”

NK News: Exclusive: “Fit for a princess: Kim Jong Un’s $7m yacht”

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Kim Jong-un's yacht, island and 7-star party lifestyle unveiled

Dennis Rodman reveals the luxury details of his week-long party with North Korean dictator

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NORTH KOREAN leader Kim Jong-un parties on his own private island and owns a "seven-star" Disney yacht, Dennis Rodman has revealed.

The basketball star has become an unlikely friend to the North Korean dictator, making his second visit to the country last month.

While ordinary North Koreans face chronic and widespread malnutrition, with millions dependent on external food aid, Rodman insists that "life in North Korea is not that bad".

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In an interview with The Sun , he describes Kim's 200ft yacht as a "cross between a ferry and a Disney boat" and says guests get "everything you want, he has the best".

The former Chicago Bulls star spent seven days on Kim's private island partying and drinking during his visit. "Kim's island is amazing," he said. "It's like going to Hawaii or Ibiza – but he's the only one that lives there. I got to have dinner with Kim, go for lunch with him, ride horses... Everything there is seven-star – it's so immaculate it's insane. You can't find a speck of dirt on the ground or a scratch on the wall. His people love to work, especially to make him happy."

Even Kim's closest family stand up and clap when he leaves a room, says Rodman, who insists that P Diddy would be "way humbled" by Kim's wealth and power.

Earlier this month a report found that the regime spent $645.8m last year on luxury goods, from exotic pets and perfume to saunas and luxury watches. Imports of high-end alcohol alone cost $30m, according to data submitted to the South Korean parliament.

Rodman initially visited North Korea earlier this year to make a documentary about basketball, of which Kim is a huge fan, reports the Daily Telegraph. He hopes to bring the US and North Korea together by organising the first basketball game between the two countries in January and also plans to train the North Korean basketball team for the next Olympics.

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Satellite images show luxury yachts around coastal resort where North Korea's Kim Jong Un could be staying

Kim's seaside compound in Wonsan is dotted with guest villas and serviced by a private beach, basketball court, and private train station. It also has a horse track

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Satellite imagery showing recent movements of luxury boats often used by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and his entourage near Wonsan provide further indications he has been at the coastal resort, according to experts who monitor the reclusive regime.

Speculation about Kim’s health and location erupted after his unprecedented absence from April 15 celebrations to mark the birthday of his late grandfather and North Korea’s founder, Kim Il Sung .

Satellite images show luxury yachts around coastal resort where North Korea's Kim Jong Un could be staying Back to video

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On Tuesday, North Korea-monitoring website NK PRO reported commercial satellite imagery showed boats often used by Kim had made movements in patterns that suggested he or his entourage may be in the Wonsan area.

That followed a report last week by a U.S.-based North Korea monitoring project, 38 North , which reported satellite images showed what was believed to be Kim’s personal train was parked at a station reserved for his use at the villa in Wonsan.

Officials in South Korea and the United States say it is plausible Kim may be staying there, possibly to avoid exposure to the new coronavirus, and have expressed skepticism of media reports he had some kind of serious illness.

They caution, however, that Kim’s health and location are closely guarded secrets and reliable information is difficult to obtain in North Korea.

The last time official media in North Korea reported on Kim’s whereabouts was when he presided over a meeting on April 11, but there have been near-daily reports of him sending letters and diplomatic messages.

Kim’s seaside compound in Wonsan, on the country’s east coast, is dotted with guest villas and serviced by a private beach, basketball court, and private train station, according to experts and satellite imagery. An airstrip was bulldozed last year to build a horse riding track, while a boathouse nearby shelters Kim’s Princess 95 luxury yacht, valued at around $7 million in 2013.

“It’s one of his favourite houses,” said Michael Madden, a North Korea leadership expert at the U.S.-based Stimson Center, who has compared Kim’s affinity for Wonsan to U.S. President Donald Trump’s favoured resort, Mar-a-Lago in Florida.

Madden said Kim is believed to have about 13 significant compounds around the country, though he appears to only regularly use about half of them.

“All of them are set up to serve as the leader’s headquarters, so they are all equipped for him to run the country,” he said.

Wonsan is one of the larger and better appointed compounds, but it also has a useful location that allows Kim to easily travel to other areas along the coast, or return quickly to Pyongyang in his private train or along a special highway designated for use only by the Kim family or top officials, Madden said.

Wonsan also holds symbolic power for the Kim dynasty: It was there Kim Il Sung, who helped found North Korea at the end of Japanese colonial rule in 1945, first landed with Soviet troops to take over the country.

Wonsan is believed by some experts to be Kim Jong Un’s birthplace, partly because he spent his early years at the family’s palace there, although official history has never confirmed where he was born.

The Japanese chef Kenji Fujimoto, who worked for the Kims and visited Wonsan, recounted in his memoirs how a young Kim Jong Un described rollerblading, playing basketball, riding jet skis and playing in the pool at the compound.

Later, photos showed Kim sipping drinks there with American basketball player Dennis Rodman when the star visited North Korea in 2013.

The Wonsan area has also become emblematic of Kim’s strategy for survival based on a combination of economic development, tourism, and nuclear weapons. He is rebuilding the city of 360,000 people and wants to turn it into a billion-dollar tourist hotspot.

In recent months, the project has been repeatedly delayed, undermined in part by international sanctions imposed over the North’s nuclear and missile programs, which have restricted its ability to seek foreign investment.

Wonsan has also been the scene of some of Kim’s renewed military drills and missile tests, which he resumed amid increasing frustration with a lack of progress in denuclearization talks with the United States and South Korea.

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Satellite images reveal Kim Jong-Un superyacht at secret beach resort

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The red-topped vessel spotted at the secret beach resort off the North Korean coast

Satellite images show one of Kim Jong-Un ’s mysterious superyachts parked close to a secret beach resort off the North Korean coast.

The huge 180ft (55m) vessel was spotted on the Hodo Peninsula, north of Wonsan, between August 3 and August 5.

The sighting, by Planet Labs, comes after the dictator returned to public view to declare victory over Covid , following what is believed to be an almost fortnight-long absence.  

It is thought to be the first time the superyacht – which features a distinctive red roof – has arrived at the resort, which is only accessible by sea or small roads far from major cities.

The yacht’s roof was painted green when it was spotted at one of the tyrant’s coastal mansions in Wonsan in April 2020.

Earlier the boat appeared at a separate mansion owned by the North Korean leader on the Hodo Peninsula in July 2019.  

It was apparently seen anchored at Sin Island, off the coast of Wonsan, while Kim took a hiatus from public life in July, according to The Sun .

He has an even larger superyacht measuring 195ft (60m) – which is said to have been taken out of storage and placed in front of his main Wonsan beach compound between August 5 and 10.

One of Kim Jong Un's megayachts seen in satellite imagery at a secluded east coast beach near a mansion compound built in 2019 - 5 Aug 2022

The vessel, dubbed a floating amusement park, includes two waterslides, an Olympic-sized swimming pool and a multi-storey lounge.

Kim has become increasingly reclusive as the notoriously secret country battles the Covid pandemic.

Yesterday he claimed North Korea’s widely disputed success in containing the virus in three months would be hailed a global miracle.

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But his own sister suggested he had succumbed to the outbreak – which he blamed on patients touching ‘alien things’ from South Korea.  

However the pandemic has not hindered his ambitions to wage war on the West – as he vowed to use nuclear weapons if tensions with South Korea and the US escalate into a war .

Metro.co.uk exclusively revealed satellite images showing North Korea’s huge underground arms lair – said to spread over 176,000 sq ft.

The secretive Kanggye General Tractor Plant is thought to employ up to 20,000 people in what is widely regarded as the engine room of the rogue state’s defence infrastructure.

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A former North Korean operative gives his first interview since defecting

Se Eun Gong

Mary Louise Kelly, photographed for NPR, 6 September 2022, in Washington DC. Photo by Mike Morgan for NPR.

Mary Louise Kelly

kim jong yacht

A North Korean soldier looks across the Yalu river near Sinuiju, opposite the Chinese border city of Dandong in April 2017. Johannes Eisele/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

A North Korean soldier looks across the Yalu river near Sinuiju, opposite the Chinese border city of Dandong in April 2017.

Kim Jong Un's daughter may accompany her father to missile launches, but that doesn't mean she is North Korea's future leader, says a man whose job was once to protect the hereditary regime.

Kim Hyun-woo used to work for North Korea's top intelligence agency. He defected to South Korea in 2014 and is now on his first-ever visit to the United States.

In an exclusive interview with NPR's Mary Louise Kelly, he shared his insights into why he fled the country, possible succession scenarios in the regime, and diplomacy with the U.S. amid mounting tension over North Korea's nuclear capabilities.

During his 17 years at the Ministry of State Security – a career possible only for elite North Koreans with credible social and familial background – Kim served in various divisions, analyzing intelligence data and at one point working at an overseas branch.

The ministry's job, Kim explained, is to "track down, identify and catch what the regime views as hostile agents or hostile activities within the state."

And in North Korea, acts as seemingly mundane as watching a South Korean drama can be considered "hostile" and lead to severe consequences like several years in prison, according to defectors' testimonies .

The ministry's extensive network of agents surveils North Korean people , including high-ranking officials of the military and the ruling party. It is also involved in running political prison camps .

Because of its social control functions, the ministry plays an important role , especially during leadership transitions.

kim jong yacht

This undated handout picture released from North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency in April 2022 shows North Korean leader Kim Jong Un as he observes the test-fire of a new-type tactical guided weapon in North Korea. STR/KCNA VIA KNS/AFP via Getty Image hide caption

The South Korean intelligence agency reported that dozens of senior North Korean officials were executed in the early years of the current leader Kim Jong Un's regime. Among them was Jang Song Thaek, Kim Jong Un's uncle, to whom the ministry ordered execution in a special military trial in 2013.

The ministry's immense authority and proximity to power also meant that during the transitional period when Kim Jong Un rose to power in 2011, it experienced turbulent shifts. Former agent Kim Hyun-woo said existing leadership members of the organization were persecuted by newly appointed officials.

Kim feared that he, too, would fall victim to the power struggle, even as he was posted abroad at the time. So he fled with his family and has never returned to his home country.

"Sadly, I do not know what happened to my relatives," Kim said.

Closed borders and a lack of information

Although the ministry's internal conflict drove Kim to defect, the years he spent there also provided him with the information he needed to safely make his way to South Korea.

The experience also informs his current work of researching North Korea at the Institute for National Security Strategy, a Seoul think tank affiliated with the South Korean spy agency, National Intelligence Service.

Firsthand insights into North Korea's political and social system from defectors like Kim are valuable, as information flowing into and out of the country is highly limited, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic began.

Strict border lockdowns, imposed on both people and goods in January 2020, forced most of the few international organizations and foreign diplomats to leave, aggravating the information deficiency even further.

In May 2022, North Korea admitted a breakout of COVID-19 among its people for the first time. Three months later, it declared a "final victory" in "exterminating" the virus .

It reported that a total of about 4.7 million people had "experienced fever" and recovered. But experts suspect the country doesn't have public health resources like test kits to even understand the full scope of the pandemic's impact.

Kim Hyun-woo believes "North Korea suffered from [the] pandemic even more severely than other countries, fundamentally because North Korea's healthcare infrastructure is severely deficient."

He remembers that the country had no better option than to close its borders in 2010 when the H1N1 flu pandemic arrived there.

kim jong yacht

Employees spray disinfectant and wipe surfaces as part of preventative measures against the coronavirus at the Pyongyang Children's Department Store in March 2022. Kim Won Jin/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

And the North Korean government, Kim said, cannot afford "to be transparent in full data of the impact of the pandemic" and risk political and social instability.

So as the rest of the world moves beyond the pandemic, and with its neighbor South Korea lifting mandatory isolation for patients starting June, North Korea still remains sealed off. Kim said, however, goods had started to make their way in through the border with China last year.

South Korean media reported last year that cross-border cargo trains resumed operations , although at a much lower frequency than before the pandemic.

"To give an example," Kim said about recent imports, "last summer – June and July specifically – we have data that shows construction materials have been shipped from China into North Korea."

Part of the reason may be that building apartments in the capital Pyongyang is one of Kim Jong Un's key construction projects aimed at improving North Korean people's quality of life. In 2021, he vowed to build 10,000 new homes in the city every year for the following five years.

With several high-profile projects like a new general hospital in Pyongyang or an expansive coastal resort in Wonsan-Kalma failing to meet their deadline for completion amid international sanctions, the regime appears to be prioritizing apartments it promised to its elite citizens of Pyongyang.

A question of succession

In November, Kim Jong Un's daughter appeared in public for the first time , accompanying her father to a missile test launch.

The unusual disclosure of a Kim family member who is still a child, and the deferential treatment she received in the state media, stoked speculations that the regime is preparing her and the nation for her succession as the fourth-generation leader.

kim jong yacht

People watch a television screen showing a news broadcast with an image of Kim Jong Un and his daughter attending a military parade held in Pyongyang in February. Jung Yeon-Je/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

But Kim Hyun-woo, whose life in North Korea was devoted to upholding the regime, is doubtful.

"Based on what we know about the protocols and the traditions behind North Korea's leadership succession, there is no concrete evidence for us to argue Kim Ju Ae, the daughter, is going to be the next in line," he said.

To designate such a young child as the heir apparent would raise questions about the current leader's conditions and destabilize the regime, he said.

Yet, Kim recognizes North Korea can buck expectations. "Seemingly illogical, irrational decisions have occurred in North Korean politics," he said, adding that Ju Ae's succession "is a distant possibility that I'm not going to completely dismiss out of hand."

If that possibility is realized, he thinks it could indicate an emergency situation requiring an urgent handing down of power.

But for now, Kim Jong Un has been leading the country for more than a decade, despite occasional rumors about health and biting consequences of his pursuit of nuclear development.

A brief attempt at denuclearization negotiations with the United States ended when his summit meeting with Trump in Hanoi in 2019 produced no deal.

kim jong yacht

Donald Trump shakes hands with Kim Jong Un before a meeting in Hanoi in February 2019. Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

Dialogue has mostly ceased between the two countries since. Instead, the two are exchanging increasingly harsh rhetoric as Pyongyang steps up weapons development and armed provocations , while Washington resumes large-scale joint exercises with Seoul and dispatches strategic assets to the region more frequently.

The possibility of a diplomatic breakthrough seems very low, Kim Hyun-woo admits, but he is hopeful.

One reason is North Korea's new foreign minister Choe Son Hui, who replaced Ri Son Gwon last year. Unlike Ri, who is a military negotiation expert, Choe is a career diplomat who has long dealt with the U.S.

Another reason is the continued call for talks from both the South Korean and U.S. leaders.

One recommendation Kim has for them is this: "Especially right now, when there is a diplomatic stalemate at the official channels, in order to create a breakthrough, what we need is a two-track diplomacy ... widening opportunities for informal, indirect private channels of diplomacy."

"Unfortunately, I cannot be involved in informal channels because North Korea views me as a traitor," he said with a chuckle.

When asked if he thinks of himself as a traitor, he paused for a while and said: "That question opens up a wound in my heart."

He doesn't use that label on himself, but he knows he is in the eyes of the North Korean government. And possibly to his family members still in North Korea.

"Even though I am living in South Korea and enjoying the freedom I've wanted, in my heart I still feel sadness for the relatives I had to leave behind," he said.

He prays daily for their safety until the time they reunite.

Vincent Ni, Sarah Handel and Gustavo Contreras contributed to this report.

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Kim Jong Un Has A 7 Million Dollar Luxury Yacht [PHOTO]

North Korea stereotypically conjures up images of impoverished civilian life and military goose-stepping under the command of the nation’s supreme leader Kim Jong Un. Which is not usually part of this image: a recently discovered 95-foot (30 meter) luxury yacht worth $7 million.

Princess 95m Luxury Yacht

According to NK News , an independent North Korea news outlet, an exclusive investigation revealed that Kim Jong Un has been navigating his nation’s East coast on his 10-day "on the spot guidance" tour, cruising on a luxury vessel that would float well in a rap music video.

According to NK News, the yacht is a Princess 95MY model, manufactured by the British company Princess Yachts. Princess Yachts is a company with clout in the maritime world, being associated with other luxury brands like Louis Vuitton, Moet Chandon, Christian Dior and many others, all operating under their parent company LVMH Group (EPA:MC).

Official media photos from Kim’s official tour of the North Korea’s coasts were the biggest giveaway, says NK News, which found that the luxury ship had been included in several of the photographs. “During an inspection of the ‘August 25th Fishery Station,’ the starboard side of a large luxury yacht was captured in a May 28 KCNA photo of Kim and his generals walking along the docks -- indicating it might have been deliberately included in the photo,” the news outlet says. With the help of an unnamed aficionado familiar with the boats, NK News was able to determine the make and model of the ship.

Kim Jong Un's Yacht

“Compare the details on the hard top roof between this and the Princess 95MY,” the boat broker familiar with Princess Yachts and other luxury yachts said to NK News. “The opening, the three stainless-steel bar supporters under the flying deck room and the detailing on the radar arch are all identical,” the source added.

The acquisition of the Princess 95MY, if confirmed, would be a first for North Korea under Kim Jong-Un, but it does maintain other personal ships. Kim Jong Un’s predecessor, Kim Jong Il, had two large ‘superyachts’ and a mobile swimming pool moored amongst other military naval craft. Kim Jong Il tried to add to his collection in 2009, but was blocked by international law. In The sale of two Azimut yachts that were reportedly bound for North Korea was halted because of UN Security Council resolution that prohibited the sale of ‘luxury goods’ to North Korea under Resolution 1718.

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kim jong yacht

Kim Jong-un’s ‘180ft mystery superyacht’ spotted near luxury mega-mansion as tyrant goes missing for nearly two weeks

  • Anthony Blair
  • Published : 16:50, 10 Aug 2022
  • Updated : 16:51, 10 Aug 2022

NORTH Korean dictator Kim Jong-un's mystery superyacht has been seen for the first time after the tyrant went missing for several weeks.

The mammoth ship was spotted close to a series of new mansions owned by Kim 's cronies in an exclusive resort on the east coast of North Korea .

Kim Jong-un's secretive megayacht has been spotted close to his private mansion

Kim's apparent stay on his 180-foot (55m) megayacht comes as rumours swirl over the dictator's continuing absence from public life.

As of today, North Korea's leader hasn't appeared on state TV for 12 days, his second-longest break this year after a further 19 days out of the spotlight in July.

Imagery from Planet Labs shows the megayacht parked at a beach on Hodo Peninsula north of the beach resort of Wonsan between August 3 and August 5.

A smaller 60-foot (18m) boat is parked alongside the yacht and further down the beach in separate shots.

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Kim's distinctive superyacht can be seen with its red roof covering the entire length and setting it apart from his larger white-roofed and slightly smaller blue-roofed crafts of a similar build.

This is the first time the yacht has been captured in satellite imagery at this particular beach - which can only be reached by sea or small roads far away from any major cities.

The last time Planet Labs imagery captured any boat parked in the same spot was in August 2016, when Kim's 165-foot (50m) megayacht was spotted there.

His famous red-roofed yacht was spotted at one of Kim's coastal mansions in April 2020 at the leader's Wonsan compound, when it was painted green instead.

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It also appeared at a separate mansion owned by Kim on Hodo Peninsula, just after the house was finished in July 2019.

The yacht has been spotted several times in recent months, as Kim has become more and more reclusive.

When the tyrant last disappeared in July, it was seen anchored at Sin Island off the Wonsan coast for the first time, while in April, it was spotted at the nearby Tae Island.

It received repairs or upgrades in May at Kim's private marina in central Wonsan.

One of Kim's other yachts

Kim's biggest superyacht, his 195-foot (60m) craft, has also been spotted recently, when it was taken out of storage and placed in front of his main Wonsan compound beach between August 5 and August 10.

The huge ship features twin waterslides, an Olympic-sized pool and a multi-storey lounge, and has been dubbed a "floating amusement park".

Last year, the North Korean leader's biggest yacht was seen at Kim's private beach at his Wonsan mansion,  NK News  reported.

Kim has made fewer and fewer public appearances in the past few years, sparking speculation over his health.

Increasingly, he has withdrawn into his luxury palaces, as the country battles a devastating Covid pandemic and economic catastrophe.

The  North Korean elite own a number of mansions and yachts  and live lives of disgusting luxury while many of their people starve.

But this hasn't stopped Kim's sabre-rattling with the West, with the tyrant claiming last month  North Korea is "ready to mobilise" its nuclear weapons  at any moment in fresh conflict threats.

This week, it was claimed North Korea is preparing to send 100,000 volunteers to Russia to aid its war against Ukraine.

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Speaking on Russian state TV Channel One, defence expert Igor Korotchenko said: "There are reports that 100,000 North Korean volunteers are prepared to come and take part in the conflict and North Korean builders are ready to work alongside ours."

Calling the troops "resilient, undemanding and motivated," the Russian journalist said the Kremlin "shouldn't be shy in accepting the hand extended to us by Kim Jong-un".

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  • North Korea

kim jong yacht

Kim Jong Un takes ride in luxury Russian limo given to him by Putin

N orth Korean leader Kim Jong Un took his first ride in the luxury car that was given to him as a gift by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Pyongyang and Moscow have forged closer ties since Kim met Putin in Russia last September, their first summit in four years.

Putin also invited Kim to try out his high-end Aurus Senat limousine, and the vehicle arrived in Pyongyang in February.

On Friday, Kim used the car for the first time, according to his sister and prominent government official Kim Yo Jong.

The journey was “clear proof of the DPRK-Russia friendship, which is developing in a comprehensive way on a new high stage”, Kim Yo Jong was reported as saying by state-run KCNA, using the acronym for North Korea’s official name, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.

According to Russian state media, Aurus is Russia’s first luxury car brand and has been used in motorcades of top officials since Putin first used an Aurus limousine during his inauguration ceremony in 2018.

Kim Jong Un, 40, has a collection of foreign-made luxury cars believed to have been smuggled into the country. During his Russia visit, he travelled between meeting sites in a Maybach limousine that he brought with him on his special train. Other limousines Kim has reportedly used include a Mercedes-Maybach S600 Pullman Guard and a Maybach S62.

A 2021 United Nations report highlighted an attempted shipment of luxury vehicles worth more than $1m allegedly from the United Arab Emirates to Ningbo, China, for onward delivery to North Korea.

North Korea and Russia have become increasingly close over the past year as North Korea advances its weapons and nuclear programmes and Moscow continues its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The United States and South Korea have raised concerns that North Korea is supplying Russia with weapons to use in its war in Ukraine in return for technological expertise.

Russia and China, North Korea’s oldest ally, have repeatedly blocked attempts to impose new UN sanctions on North Korea over its banned ballistic missile tests.

South Korea’s  Ministry of Unification said it had assessed that the gift of the Aurus was also a violation of UN sanctions.

“We condemn North Korea for its brazen attitude of publicly disclosing violations of the UN sanctions,” a ministry official told reporters, speaking on condition of anonymity.

“Russia should also be aware of its responsibility as a permanent member of the UN Security Council and stop an act that undermines international norms,” the official added.

Putin's Aurus limousine parked outside the Great Hall of the People in Beijing last year [Sputnik/Dmitry Azarov/Pool via Reuters]

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North Korea’s Kim test drives a new tank and orders troops to prepare for war

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un drove a tank before watching the military’s latest training drill, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported early Thursday. Kim piloted the army’s “new-type main battle tank” himself on Wednesday, KCNA said alongside newly released photos.

kim jong yacht

The South Korean and U.S. militaries held a combined live-fire exercise on Thursday as part of the ongoing annual Freedom Shield exercise. Over 300 South Korean and U.S. soldiers participated in the exercise, with over 20 South Korean tanks firing hundreds of rounds at targets. (AP video: Yong Jun Chang)

In this photo provided by the North Korean government, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un drives a new-type tank in North Korea Wednesday, March 13, 2024. Independent journalists were not given access to cover the event depicted in this image distributed by the North Korean government. The content of this image is as provided and cannot be independently verified. Korean language watermark on image as provided by source reads: "KCNA" which is the abbreviation for Korean Central News Agency. (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP)

In this photo provided by the North Korean government, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un drives a new-type tank in North Korea Wednesday, March 13, 2024. Independent journalists were not given access to cover the event depicted in this image distributed by the North Korean government. The content of this image is as provided and cannot be independently verified. Korean language watermark on image as provided by source reads: “KCNA” which is the abbreviation for Korean Central News Agency. (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP)

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In this photo provided by the North Korean government, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, center, meets soldiers who took part in a training in North Korea Wednesday, March 13, 2024. Independent journalists were not given access to cover the event depicted in this image distributed by the North Korean government. The content of this image is as provided and cannot be independently verified. Korean language watermark on image as provided by source reads: “KCNA” which is the abbreviation for Korean Central News Agency. (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP)

A South Korean K1A2 tank fires during a joint live fire exercise at a military training field in Pocheon Thursday, March 14, 2024, as part of the annual Freedom Shield joint military exercise between South Korea and the United States. (Jung Yeon-je /Pool Photo via AP)

South Korean K1A2 tanks move during a joint live fire exercise at a military training field in Pocheon Thursday, March 14, 2024, as part of the annual Freedom Shield joint military exercise between South Korea and the United States. (Jung Yeon-je /Pool Photo via AP)

U.S. soldiers participate in a joint live fire exercise at a military training field in Pocheon, South Korea Thursday, March 14, 2024 as part of the annual Freedom Shield joint military exercise between South Korea and the United States. (Jung Yeon-je/Pool Photo via AP)

South Korean soldiers talk with a US soldier, right, during their joint live fire exercise at a military training field in Pocheon, South Korea Thursday, March 14, 2024 as part of the annual Freedom Shield joint military exercise between South Korea and the United States. (Jung Yeon-je/Pool Photo via AP)

U.S. soldiers gather after a joint live fire exercise at a military training field in Pocheon, South Korea Thursday, March 14, 2024 as part of the annual Freedom Shield joint military exercise between South Korea and the United States. (Jung Yeon-je/Pool Photo via AP)

South Korean soldiers gather after a joint live fire exercise at a military training field in Pocheon, South Korea Thursday, March 14, 2024 as part of the annual Freedom Shield joint military exercise between South Korea and the United States. (Jung Yeon-je/Pool Photo via AP)

South Korean and U.S. soldiers pose for photos after their joint live fire exercise at a military training field in Pocheon, South Korea Thursday, March 14, 2024 as part of the annual Freedom Shield joint military exercise between South Korea and the United States. (Jung Yeon-je/Pool Photo via AP)

South Korean K1A2 tanks fire smoke shells during a joint live fire exercise at a military training field in Pocheon Thursday, March 14, 2024, as part of the annual Freedom Shield joint military exercise between South Korea and the United States. (Jung Yeon-je /Pool Photo via AP)

U.S. soldiers walk past South Korean tanks after a joint live fire exercise at a military training field in Pocheon, South Korea Thursday, March 14, 2024 as part of the annual Freedom Shield joint military exercise between South Korea and the United States. (Jung Yeon-je/Pool Photo via AP)

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un joined troops training on a new tank model and drove one himself, state media reported Thursday, as his rivals South Korea and the U.S. wrapped up their annual military exercises.

It’s the third time Kim was reported to have observed military exercises since the start of the 11-day South Korean-U.S. drills, which he views as rehearsals for an invasion. That’s a less provocative option than missile tests. North Korea has intensified launches since 2022 and ramped up belligerent rhetoric this year.

At the tank drills Wednesday, Kim praised the country’s latest tank as “the world’s most powerful” and told his troops to bolster their “fighting spirits” and complete “preparations for war,” according to the official Korean Central News Agency. The other two drills he inspected recently were dedicated to artillery firing and maneuvering exercises .

The tank was first unveiled during a military parade in 2020, and its rolling during Wednesday’s drill indicates that it’s ready to be deployed, South Korean experts say.

In this photo provided by the North Korean government, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, center, meets soldiers who took part in a training in North Korea Wednesday, March 13, 2024. Independent journalists were not given access to cover the event depicted in this image distributed by the North Korean government. The content of this image is as provided and cannot be independently verified. Korean language watermark on image as provided by source reads: "KCNA" which is the abbreviation for Korean Central News Agency. (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP)

In this photo provided by the North Korean government, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, center, meets soldiers who took part in a training in North Korea Wednesday, March 13, 2024. (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP)

Photos of the tank released by North Korea show it has a launch tube for missiles, a weapons systems the former Soviet Union already operated in the 1970s. The new tank could pose a threat to South Korea, said Yang Uk, an analyst at Asan Institute for Policy Studies, but it remains to be seen whether it can be mass produced.

The North’s Defense Ministry last week threatened “responsible military activities” in reaction to the South Korea-U.S. military drills, which involved a computer-simulated command post training and 48 kinds of field exercises, twice the number conducted last spring. The U.S. and South Korea have been expanding their training exercises in a tit-for-tat response to the North’s weapons testing spree.

Concerns about North Korea’s military preparations have deepened since Kim vowed in a speech in January to rewrite the constitution to eliminate the country’s long-standing goal to seek peaceful unification of the Korean Peninsula and cement South Korea as its “invariable principal enemy.” He said the new constitution must specify North Korea would annex and subjugate the South if another war breaks out.

In this photo provided by the North Korean government, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, center, supervises artillery firing drills in North Korea Thursday, March 7, 2024. Independent journalists were not given access to cover the event depicted in this image distributed by the North Korean government. The content of this image is as provided and cannot be independently verified. Korean language watermark on image as provided by source reads: "KCNA" which is the abbreviation for Korean Central News Agency. (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP)

Kim’s moves signal “North Korea’s fundamental change on its South Korea policy, beyond just rhetoric,” as the North’s previous push for inter-Korean unity had allowed it to make a steadfast call for the removal of U.S. troops in South Korea, a senior South Korean presidential official told a small group of reporters Monday. He requested anonymity, citing the delicate nature of the issue.

Observers say Kim likely wants to use his upgraded weapons arsenal to win U.S. concessions like extensive relief of international sanctions on North Korea. They say North Korea is expected to extend its testing activities and ramp up warlike rhetoric this year as South Korea holds parliamentary elections in April and the U.S. a presidential election in November.

“The South Korean-U.S. training is over, but the North’s isn’t over yet,” Yang said. “They won’t just stand still ... they’ve been talking about war,”

Associated Press writer Jiwon Song contributed to this report.

kim jong yacht

kim jong yacht

Kim Jong Un’s Princess yacht appears to sail to island retreat: Imagery

North Korean leader likely only one to use luxury yacht, adding to evidence Kim vacationing amid COVID lockdown

Colin Zwirko June 2, 2022

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One of Kim Jong Un’s multimillion-dollar Princess-brand yachts appeared to travel from his Wonsan beachside mansion to a secluded island on Wednesday, new satellite imagery shows, adding to evidence that the North Korean leader has been on the east coast following days of increased activity around his megayachts.

The U.K.-made yacht’s $7 million price tag and the fact that it is stored at Kim’s mansion marina suggest that it is for his exclusive use. This points to the possibility that he has been vacationing on the east coast this week, even as much

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North Korea's Kim test drives a new tank and orders troops to prepare for war

SEOUL, South Korea — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un joined troops training on a new tank model and drove one himself, state media reported Thursday, as his rivals South Korea and the U.S. wrapped up their annual military exercises.

It’s the third time Kim was reported to have observed military exercises since the start of the 11-day South Korean-U.S. drills, which he views as rehearsals for an invasion. That’s a less provocative option than missile tests. North Korea has intensified launches since 2022 and ramped up belligerent rhetoric this year.

At the tank drills Wednesday, Kim praised the country’s latest tank as “the world’s most powerful” and told his troops to bolster their “fighting spirits” and complete “preparations for war,” according to the official Korean Central News Agency. The other two drills he inspected recently were dedicated to artillery firing and maneuvering exercises .

The tank was first unveiled during a military parade in 2020, and its rolling during Wednesday’s drill indicates that it’s ready to be deployed, South Korean experts say.

Photos of the tank released by North Korea show it has a launch tube for missiles, a weapons systems the former Soviet Union already operated in the 1970s. The new tank could pose a threat to South Korea, said Yang Uk, an analyst at Asan Institute for Policy Studies, but it remains to be seen whether it can be mass produced.

The North’s Defense Ministry last week threatened “responsible military activities” in reaction to the South Korea-U.S. military drills, which involved a computer-simulated command post training and 48 kinds of field exercises, twice the number conducted last spring. The U.S. and South Korea have been expanding their training exercises in a tit-for-tat response to the North’s weapons testing spree.

Concerns about North Korea’s military preparations have deepened since Kim vowed in a speech in January to rewrite the constitution to eliminate the country’s long-standing goal to seek peaceful unification of the Korean Peninsula and cement South Korea as its “invariable principal enemy.” He said the new constitution must specify North Korea would annex and subjugate the South if another war breaks out.

Kim’s moves signal “North Korea’s fundamental change on its South Korea policy, beyond just rhetoric,” as the North’s previous push for inter-Korean unity had allowed it to make a steadfast call for the removal of U.S. troops in South Korea, a senior South Korean presidential official told a small group of reporters Monday. He requested anonymity, citing the delicate nature of the issue.

Observers say Kim likely wants to use his upgraded weapons arsenal to win U.S. concessions like extensive relief of international sanctions on North Korea. They say North Korea is expected to extend its testing activities and ramp up warlike rhetoric this year as South Korea holds parliamentary elections in April and the U.S. a presidential election in November.

“The South Korean-U.S. training is over, but the North’s isn’t over yet,” Yang said. “They won’t just stand still ... they’ve been talking about war,”

Associated Press writer Jiwon Song contributed to this report.

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Kim Jong-un’s ‘180ft mystery superyacht’ spotted near luxury mega-mansion as tyrant goes missing for nearly two weeks

  • Anthony Blair
  • Published : 11:50 ET, Aug 10 2022

NORTH Korean dictator Kim Jong-un's mystery superyacht has been seen for the first time after the tyrant went missing for several weeks.

The mammoth ship was spotted close to a series of new mansions owned by Kim 's cronies in an exclusive resort on the east coast of North Korea .

Kim Jong-un's secretive megayacht has been spotted close to his private mansion

Kim's apparent stay on his 180-foot (55m) megayacht comes as rumours swirl over the dictator's continuing absence from public life.

As of today, North Korea's leader hasn't appeared on state TV for 12 days, his second-longest break this year after a further 19 days out of the spotlight in July.

Imagery from Planet Labs shows the megayacht parked at a beach on Hodo Peninsula north of the beach resort of Wonsan between August 3 and August 5.

A smaller 60-foot (18m) boat is parked alongside the yacht and further down the beach in separate shots.

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Kim's distinctive superyacht can be seen with its red roof covering the entire length and setting it apart from his larger white-roofed and slightly smaller blue-roofed crafts of a similar build.

This is the first time the yacht has been captured in satellite imagery at this particular beach - which can only be reached by sea or small roads far away from any major cities.

The last time Planet Labs imagery captured any boat parked in the same spot was in August 2016, when Kim's 165-foot (50m) megayacht was spotted there.

His famous red-roofed yacht was spotted at one of Kim's coastal mansions in April 2020 at the leader's Wonsan compound, when it was painted green instead.

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It also appeared at a separate mansion owned by Kim on Hodo Peninsula, just after the house was finished in July 2019.

The yacht has been spotted several times in recent months, as Kim has become more and more reclusive.

When the tyrant last disappeared in July, it was seen anchored at Sin Island off the Wonsan coast for the first time, while in April, it was spotted at the nearby Tae Island.

It received repairs or upgrades in May at Kim's private marina in central Wonsan.

One of Kim's other yachts

Kim's biggest superyacht, his 195-foot (60m) craft, has also been spotted recently, when it was taken out of storage and placed in front of his main Wonsan compound beach between August 5 and August 10.

The huge ship features twin waterslides, an Olympic-sized pool and a multi-storey lounge, and has been dubbed a "floating amusement park".

Last year, the North Korean leader's biggest yacht was seen at Kim's private beach at his Wonsan mansion,  NK News  reported.

Kim has made fewer and fewer public appearances in the past few years, sparking speculation over his health.

Increasingly, he has withdrawn into his luxury palaces, as the country battles a devastating Covid pandemic and economic catastrophe.

The  North Korean elite own a number of mansions and yachts  and live lives of disgusting luxury while many of their people starve.

But this hasn't stopped Kim's sabre-rattling with the West, with the tyrant claiming last month  North Korea is "ready to mobilise" its nuclear weapons  at any moment in fresh conflict threats.

This week, it was claimed North Korea is preparing to send 100,000 volunteers to Russia to aid its war against Ukraine.

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Speaking on Russian state TV Channel One, defence expert Igor Korotchenko said: "There are reports that 100,000 North Korean volunteers are prepared to come and take part in the conflict and North Korean builders are ready to work alongside ours."

Calling the troops "resilient, undemanding and motivated," the Russian journalist said the Kremlin "shouldn't be shy in accepting the hand extended to us by Kim Jong-un".

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IMAGES

  1. Kim Jong Un's Princess Motor Yacht

    kim jong yacht

  2. Kim Jong-Un’s Secret, Outrageous Megayacht Has Been Spotted

    kim jong yacht

  3. Kim Jong-Un’s Secret, Outrageous Megayacht Has Been Spotted

    kim jong yacht

  4. Exclusive: Fit for a princess: Kim Jong Un’s $7m yacht

    kim jong yacht

  5. Kim Jong Un tours coast with $7M yacht

    kim jong yacht

  6. Kim Jong Un Has A 7 Million Dollar Luxury Yacht [PHOTO]

    kim jong yacht

VIDEO

  1. KOREA: Kim Jong Un Abaludde Cruise Missiles Eziwezeeko!

  2. The Great Leader Kim Jong Un Seriously Inspecting the factory's production equipment!

  3. The Great Leader Kim Jong Un Inspect buses independently produced by the country!

  4. Kim Jong un's unexpected Food inspection ☠ #shorts

  5. Kim Jong Un Inspects Major Munitions Factory

  6. North Korea’s Kim Yo-jong threatens allies, warns U.S. not to intercept missile

COMMENTS

  1. Kim Jong Un Party Yacht Spotted As North Korea Suffers Famine, Virus

    Kim Jong Un's 260-foot luxury yacht has been spotted moving toward his private compound as North Korea struggles with famine and COVID-19. Satellite-imaging company Planet Labs captured pictures ...

  2. Trappings of North Korean leader's lavish lifestyle visible by

    Three of Kim Jong Un's yachts can be seen at the port of Wonsan in this Dec. 2019 image. Credit: CNES/Airbus. RFA: Was it confirmed that one of Kim's luxury cruise ships disappeared?

  3. Welcome aboard Kim Jong Un's party boat

    What is Kim Jong Un's party boat like? Kim's Princess-brand luxury yacht is decked out with twin twisting waterslides, an Olympic-size swimming pool and a multistory lounge, per NK News. The party boat is 260 feet long and recently underwent repairs and a remodel, according to The New York Post. NK News described the yacht as a "floating ...

  4. Satellite imagery shows Kim Jong Un's east coast yacht, missile test

    North Korean leader Kim Jong Un likely hosted a gathering or enjoyed luxurious amenities at his east coast Wonsan beach mansion this week around the same time he was in the area to inspect a missile test and an upgraded weapons factory, according to NK Pro analysis of satellite imagery. Planet Labs imagery shows that one of Kim's custom ...

  5. Kim Jong Un reportedly enjoys party boat with waterslides

    A slimmed-down Kim Jong Un may have been relaxing on his remodeled yacht, complete with twin waterslides and an Olympic-sized pool -- as North Koreans grapple with famine and a prolonged COVID-19 ...

  6. Kim Jong Un's Princess Motor Yacht

    Kim Jong Un's 95 Foot Princess Motor Yacht. The Dictator of North Korea, Kim Jong Un, has a luxurious yacht he keeps off the coast of his Wonsan resort. The image of a luxury yacht in North Korea might take some by surprise, given that the UN Security Council blocked the sale of 'luxury goods' to North Korea in 2006 with Resolution 1718.

  7. Satellite images show Kim Jong-Un's water-slide yacht in action, while

    Kim Jong-Un's 260-ft luxury yacht has been spotted moving towards his private compound, suggesting he or his associates are reading to party during North Korea's struggles with famine and COVID-19.

  8. Inside the luxury world of Kim Jong-un

    Soo Kim 27 August 2015 • 12:00am. The North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. Kim Jong-un, the leader of the world's most secretive state, who came to power following the death of his father Kim Jong ...

  9. Kim Jong Un's megayachts active on east coast during COVID ...

    North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's custom megayachts were in use off the coast of Wonsan multiple days last week, satellite imagery shows, raising questions over activities of the country's elite amid a COVID-19 outbreak and national lockdown. The yacht movements coincided with a one-week break from public appearances, Kim's longest since announcing the outbreak […]

  10. Kim Jong-un's yacht, island and 7-star party lifestyle unveiled

    NORTH KOREAN leader Kim Jong-un parties on his own private island and owns a "seven-star" Disney yacht, Dennis Rodman has revealed. ... he describes Kim's 200ft yacht as a "cross between a ferry ...

  11. Satellite images show luxury yachts around coastal resort where North

    North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's Wonsan complex is seen in a satellite image taken over Wonsan, North Korea on April 15, 2020. ... while a boathouse nearby shelters Kim's Princess 95 luxury ...

  12. Kim Jong-un 'pictured with luxury yacht' in North Korea

    Kim Jong-il loved his yacht so much he was apparently buried with it. Now Kim Jong-un has shown he shares his father's penchant for a luxury cruiser, reportedly displaying a gleaming £4.5 million ...

  13. Kim Jong-un's notorious cheese and champagne-laden party yachts spotted

    PARTY yachts used by Kim Jong-un have been spotted off the coast of his Wonsan resort fuelling speculation he is isolating from coronavirus. The North Korean dictator has not been seen in public ...

  14. Satellite images reveal Kim Jong-Un superyacht at secret beach ...

    Satellite images show one of Kim Jong-Un 's mysterious superyachts parked close to a secret beach resort off the North Korean coast. The huge 180ft (55m) vessel was spotted on the Hodo Peninsula ...

  15. Kim Jong Un's 260-Foot 'Waterslide Yacht' Spotted Near His ...

    Kim Jong Un's 'waterslide yacht' only just reappeared. It was one of his favorites back in 2019 but underwent a recent remodeling and has only just now shown up on satellites again. Instead, the waterslide boat was taken in for major repairs and a remodeling job, expanding the multi-story lounge. The pleasure craft also appeared on May 24 ...

  16. North Korea's Kim Jong Un Rides Armored Car Gifted by ...

    Kim Jong Un gets into his limousine upon arrival at the railway station in Vladivostok on April 24, 2019. Kim is known to be fond of luxury goods including watches, yachts and cars.

  17. Kim Jong Un's luxury yachts active off coast around his visits to

    Kim Jong Un at a naval base in Munchon near Wonsan on the east coast | Image: KCTV (Aug. 21, 2023) Large luxury yachts belonging to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un appeared active off the coast of Wonsan over the weekend, around the time state media implied he was in the area, according to NK Pro analysis of satellite imagery.

  18. Exclusive: Fit for a princess: Kim Jong Un's $7m yacht

    SEOUL - Kim Jong Un recently used a 95-foot luxury yacht worth $7m to navigate North Korea's East coast during a ten-day 'on the spot guidance' tour, an NK News investigation can exclusively reveal.. The yacht, a Princess 95MY, is possibly a recent purchase - one that could constitute a direct infringement of UN sanctions on the procurement of "luxury goods" by the DPRK.

  19. A former North Korean operative gives his first interview since ...

    Kim Jong Un's daughter may accompany her father to missile launches, but that doesn't mean she is North Korea's future leader, says a man whose job was once to protect the hereditary regime.

  20. Kim Jong-un skirts UN ban with luxury yacht

    Kim's father, Kim Jong-il, was thwarted in his attempts to purchase luxury yachts as a result of the 2006 UN Security Council decision - Resolution 1718 - to ban the sale of luxury goods to North ...

  21. Kim Jong Un Has A 7 Million Dollar Luxury Yacht [PHOTO]

    Kim Jong Un's predecessor, Kim Jong Il, had two large 'superyachts' and a mobile swimming pool moored amongst other military naval craft. Kim Jong Il tried to add to his collection in 2009 ...

  22. Kim Jong-un's '180ft mystery superyacht' spotted near luxury mega

    NORTH Korean dictator Kim Jong-un's mystery superyacht has been seen for the first time after the tyrant went missing for several weeks. The mammoth ship was spotted close to a series of new …

  23. Kim Jong Un takes ride in luxury Russian limo given to him by Putin

    Kim Jong Un, 40, has a collection of foreign-made luxury cars believed to have been smuggled into the country. During his Russia visit, he travelled between meeting sites in a Maybach limousine ...

  24. North Korea: Kim Jong Un test drives a new tank

    North Korean leader Kim Jong Un joined troops training on a new model of tank and drove one himself, as his rivals South Korea and the U.S. wrapped up their annual military exercises, state media reported Thursday. It's the third time Kim was reported to have observed military exercises since the start of the 11-day South Korean-U.S ...

  25. Kim Jong Un's Princess yacht appears to sail to island ...

    One of Kim Jong Un's multimillion-dollar Princess-brand yachts appeared to travel from his Wonsan beachside mansion to a secluded island on Wednesday, new satellite imagery shows, adding to evidence that the North Korean leader has been on the east coast following days of increased activity around his megayachts. The U.K.-made yacht's $7 ...

  26. North Korea's Kim test drives a new tank and orders troops to prepare

    North Korean leader Kim Jong Un joined troops training on a new model of tank and drove one himself, as his rivals South Korea and the U.S. wrapped up their annual military exercises, state media ...

  27. Kim Jong-un's '180ft mystery superyacht' spotted near luxury mega

    NORTH Korean dictator Kim Jong-un's mystery superyacht has been seen for the first time after the tyrant went missing for several weeks. The mammoth ship was spotted close to a series of new mansions owned by Kim's cronies in an exclusive resort on the east coast of North Korea.