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TUESDAY, MAY 20, 2025
Trains, boats and planes: Kim Jong-un's modes of transport

World+Biz

TBS Report
21 February, 2021, 02:10 pm
Last modified: 21 February, 2021, 02:20 pm

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Trains, boats and planes: Kim Jong-un's modes of transport

The aircraft has modern interiors, and Kim has occasionally been photographed working and holding meetings on board

TBS Report
21 February, 2021, 02:10 pm
Last modified: 21 February, 2021, 02:20 pm
Photo collected via The BBC
Photo collected via The BBC

North Korea is a modern mystery. From peasants to their state head, everything about the country has a mysterious aspect to it. 

However, the North Korean leader Kim Jong-un does not shy away when he travels in this lavish transports. Here are a few noted ones:

Photo collected via The BBC
Photo collected via The BBC

Aircraft

The aircraft that flew Kim to China in 2018 was a Soviet-made long-range aircraft, the Ilyushin-62 (Il-62). The North Korea watchers at website NK News say it is called "Chammae-1", named after a local species of hawk.

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The white exterior of the plane is emblazoned with North Korea's official name in Korean on two sides, with the national flag next to the text. The tail features a red star inside red and blue circles.

The aircraft has modern interiors, and Kim has occasionally been photographed working and holding meetings on board.

The Chammae-1 was in the spotlight in February 2018 when it carried Pyongyang's high-level Olympics delegation, including Kim's sister Kim Yo-jong, to South Korea.
South Korean news agency Yonhap reported that the flight used the identification number "PRK-615", possibly a symbolic reference to the 15 June North-South Joint Declaration signed in 2000 by the two countries.

Photo collected via The BBC
Photo collected via The BBC

Kim has also been seen using a Ukrainian Antonov-148 (AN-148), featuring state airline Air Koryo's logo, in a 2014 documentary aired by state-owned Korean Central Television (KCTV).

Kim Jong-un's father Kim Jong-il and grandfather Kim Il-sung avoided air travel, reportedly due to a fear of flying. Kim appears to have no such issues, and in 2015 state media even carried footage of him piloting a "homegrown" light aircraft and sitting at the controls of an AN-2 military biplane.

Photo collected via The BBC
Photo collected via The BBC

Big train

When Kim Jong-un visited Beijing in March 2018, he used a "special train" believed to be the same as the one used by his father for international travel until his death in December 2011.

Footage of the "dark green train with yellow stripe" used by Kim Jong-un for his China visit went viral on China's Sina Weibo social network at the time, sparking comparisons to Kim Jong-il's train.

In November 2009, conservative South Korean daily Chosun Ilbo said that Kim Jong-il's armoured train featured around 90 carriages. The train had conference rooms, audience chamber and bedrooms, with satellite phones and televisions installed for briefings.

Photo collected via The BBC
Photo collected via The BBC

According to North Korean news reports, Kim Jong-il died aboard his official train while on his way to an inspection visit outside Pyongyang.

Commenting on KCTV footage of the train in 2011, a source told Chosun Ilbo that the predominantly white furniture appeared to be "custom-made by foreign artisans using top-quality materials".

Kim Jong-un's train features similar furniture, but the sofas and armchairs now appear to be a luxurious coral colour.

State media reports indicate that both father and son used the train to hold meetings during their international visits.

Photo collected via The BBC
Photo collected via The BBC

Mercedes-Benz

During his visit to Beijing, Kim reportedly used his personal Mercedes-Benz S-Class to travel within the city.

According to South Korean daily JoongAng Ilbo, the car was specially transported on board the leader's train. The paper reported that the car, manufactured in 2010, cost roughly 2 billion Korean won ($1.8m).

Kim's favoured S-Class model was prominent during the 27 April inter-Korean summit at Panmunjom, when he drove across the border with bodyguards running alongside.

His convoy at the summit was also reported to feature a private toilet car, used by the leader to answer the call of nature while travelling.

This was also mentioned in a 2015 report by Seoul-based website DailyNK, which said that a customised bathroom is built into one of the cars of Kim's convoy of armoured vehicles.

Photo collected via The BBC
Photo collected via The BBC

Mystery yacht

State media in North Korea has shown Mr Kim riding variously on boats, a submarine, buses and even a ski lift.

He is also rumoured to use other forms of transport, but these are yet to be seen in his excursions abroad.

When state media published photos of his visit to an army-run fishing station in May 2013, NK News observed a yacht in the background.

Photo collected via The BBC
Photo collected via The BBC

There was no clear confirmation that the yacht, estimated to cost $7m, belonged to Kim, or even how it was imported despite international sanctions on luxury goods.
Given the price, however, many international media outlets singled out the nation's ruler as the most likely owner.

In June 2015, Washington-based Radio Free Asia reported that a researcher had spotted a new helipad at Kim's lakeside villa in South Pyongan province.

The researcher, working at the US-Korea Institute of the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, suggested that the helipad may be used by Kim's family or visitors.

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transport / Kim Jong-un

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