This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-44054024
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Trains, boats and planes: How Kim Jong Un travels abroad | Trains, boats and planes: How Kim Jong Un travels abroad |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Kim Jong Un waving before boarding his train for a previous trip | Kim Jong Un waving before boarding his train for a previous trip |
| North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un is reportedly on his way to Russia's port city Vladivostok via bulletproof train to meet President Vladimir Putin. | |
| In line with a long-standing tradition among North Korean leaders, Mr Kim will likely spend over 20 hours travelling some 1,180km (733 miles) on the slow-moving locomotive. | In line with a long-standing tradition among North Korean leaders, Mr Kim will likely spend over 20 hours travelling some 1,180km (733 miles) on the slow-moving locomotive. |
| It rattles along at about 50km/h (31mph) because of its heavy armoured protection. | It rattles along at about 50km/h (31mph) because of its heavy armoured protection. |
| By comparison, London's high-speed rail runs at about 200km/h while Japan's Shinkansen bullet trains can hit 320 km/h. | By comparison, London's high-speed rail runs at about 200km/h while Japan's Shinkansen bullet trains can hit 320 km/h. |
| The long journey also takes into account the North's sometimes archaic rail network. | The long journey also takes into account the North's sometimes archaic rail network. |
| The train has been christened Taeyangho, the Korean word for the sun, and a symbolic reference to North Korea's founder Kim Il Sung. | The train has been christened Taeyangho, the Korean word for the sun, and a symbolic reference to North Korea's founder Kim Il Sung. |
| Time-honoured trains | Time-honoured trains |
| The tradition of long-distance travel via train was started by the country's founder Kim Il Sung - Kim Jong Un's grandfather - who took his own train on trips to Vietnam and eastern Europe. | The tradition of long-distance travel via train was started by the country's founder Kim Il Sung - Kim Jong Un's grandfather - who took his own train on trips to Vietnam and eastern Europe. |
| These luxurious trains are said to be heavily guarded by security agents who scan routes and upcoming stations for bombs and other threats. | These luxurious trains are said to be heavily guarded by security agents who scan routes and upcoming stations for bombs and other threats. |
| Kim Jong Un's father Kim Jong Il, who ruled North Korea from 1994 until his death in 2011, reportedly travelled by train out of necessity because he was afraid of flying. | Kim Jong Un's father Kim Jong Il, who ruled North Korea from 1994 until his death in 2011, reportedly travelled by train out of necessity because he was afraid of flying. |
| Kim Jong Il famously travelled for 10 days to Moscow in 2001 to meet with Mr Putin. | Kim Jong Il famously travelled for 10 days to Moscow in 2001 to meet with Mr Putin. |
| Kim Jong Il's armoured train pulling into Moscow in 2001 | Kim Jong Il's armoured train pulling into Moscow in 2001 |
| Russian military commander Konstantin Pulikovsky, who accompanied the former North Korean leader on the 2001 ride, spoke of its opulence in his memoir Orient Express. | Russian military commander Konstantin Pulikovsky, who accompanied the former North Korean leader on the 2001 ride, spoke of its opulence in his memoir Orient Express. |
| "It was possible to order any dish of Russian, Chinese, Korean, Japanese and French cuisine." | "It was possible to order any dish of Russian, Chinese, Korean, Japanese and French cuisine." |
| Even Mr Putin's private train "did not have the comfort of Kim Jong Il's train," he said. | Even Mr Putin's private train "did not have the comfort of Kim Jong Il's train," he said. |
| North Korean state media said he died of a heart attack while travelling on the locomotive. | North Korean state media said he died of a heart attack while travelling on the locomotive. |
| In November 2009, conservative South Korean daily Chosun Ilbo reported that Kim Jong Il's armoured train featured around 90 carriages. The green vehicle with a yellow stripe also had conference rooms, audience chambers and bedrooms, with satellite phones and televisions installed for briefings. | In November 2009, conservative South Korean daily Chosun Ilbo reported that Kim Jong Il's armoured train featured around 90 carriages. The green vehicle with a yellow stripe also had conference rooms, audience chambers and bedrooms, with satellite phones and televisions installed for briefings. |
| Kim Jong Un may not share his father's fear of flying, as he has flown on his Russian-made private jet for several trips. | Kim Jong Un may not share his father's fear of flying, as he has flown on his Russian-made private jet for several trips. |
| Kim Jong-un boards his train | Kim Jong-un boards his train |
| Kim Jong-un boards his train | Kim Jong-un boards his train |
| But when he last met Mr Putin in 2019, he also arrived by train to Vladivostok in Russia's far east. He was then welcomed by officials with a traditional offering of bread and salt. | But when he last met Mr Putin in 2019, he also arrived by train to Vladivostok in Russia's far east. He was then welcomed by officials with a traditional offering of bread and salt. |
| It was likely the last time Kim Jong Un travelled abroad. He reportedly uses the same train that his father did for international travel. | It was likely the last time Kim Jong Un travelled abroad. He reportedly uses the same train that his father did for international travel. |
| His rumoured trip, if it happens, will most likely start in Pyongyang and go through Tumangang station at the Russian border, where wheels on the train will be switched for the Russian tracks. | His rumoured trip, if it happens, will most likely start in Pyongyang and go through Tumangang station at the Russian border, where wheels on the train will be switched for the Russian tracks. |
| The wheel switch is expected to take at least a few hours or more. | The wheel switch is expected to take at least a few hours or more. |
| Private planes | Private planes |
| In addition to trains, Mr Kim has also been seen getting about on other forms of luxurious transport that paint a sharp contrast to the impoverished lifestyles of the North Korean people. | In addition to trains, Mr Kim has also been seen getting about on other forms of luxurious transport that paint a sharp contrast to the impoverished lifestyles of the North Korean people. |
| Having attended boarding school in Switzerland, Kim Jong Un is no stranger to flying. | Having attended boarding school in Switzerland, Kim Jong Un is no stranger to flying. |
| In May 2018, he made his first international flight since assuming power, to the Chinese city of Dalian to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping. | In May 2018, he made his first international flight since assuming power, to the Chinese city of Dalian to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping. |
| Media reports suggest he has previously used his private jet for travel within North Korea. | Media reports suggest he has previously used his private jet for travel within North Korea. |
| The aircraft that flew him to China was a Soviet-made long-range aircraft, the Ilyushin-62 (Il-62). | The aircraft that flew him to China was a Soviet-made long-range aircraft, the Ilyushin-62 (Il-62). |
| North Korean watchers at website NK News say locals call it "Chammae-1" after a local hawk species. | North Korean watchers at website NK News say locals call it "Chammae-1" after a local hawk species. |
| The IL-62 jet was used to transport North Korea's delegation to the 2018 Winter Olympics in South Korea | The IL-62 jet was used to transport North Korea's delegation to the 2018 Winter Olympics in South Korea |
| 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 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 aircraft has modern interiors, and Kim has occasionally been photographed working and holding meetings on board. |
| The Chammae-1 made headlines when it carried Pyongyang's high-level Olympics delegation, including Kim's sister Kim Yo-jong, to South Korea in 2018. | The Chammae-1 made headlines when it carried Pyongyang's high-level Olympics delegation, including Kim's sister Kim Yo-jong, to South Korea in 2018. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| In 2015, North Korean state media even carried footage of Kim Jong Un piloting a "homegrown" light aircraft and sitting at the controls of an AN-2 military biplane. | In 2015, North Korean state media even carried footage of Kim Jong Un piloting a "homegrown" light aircraft and sitting at the controls of an AN-2 military biplane. |
| Luxury cars | Luxury cars |
| In March 2018, Mr Kim travelled to the Chinese capital Beijing via train but used his personal Mercedes-Benz S-Class to travel within the city. | In March 2018, Mr Kim travelled to the Chinese capital Beijing via train but 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. | 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). | The paper reported that the car, manufactured in 2010, cost roughly 2 billion Korean won ($1.8m). |
| Kim Jong Un also gets around on luxury cars and favours the Mercedes-Benz S-Class | Kim Jong Un also gets around on luxury cars and favours the Mercedes-Benz S-Class |
| Mr Kim's favoured S-Class model was prominent during the 2018 inter-Korean summit at Panmunjom, when he drove across the border with bodyguards running alongside. | Mr Kim's favoured S-Class model was prominent during the 2018 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. | 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. | 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. |
| Mystery yacht | Mystery yacht |
| State media in North Korea has shown Mr Kim riding variously on boats, a submarine, buses and even a ski lift. | 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. | 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. | 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. |
| There was no clear confirmation that the yacht, estimated to cost $7m, belonged to Mr Kim, or even how it was imported despite international sanctions on luxury goods. | There was no clear confirmation that the yacht, estimated to cost $7m, belonged to Mr 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. | 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 Mr Kim's lakeside villa in South Pyongan province. | In June 2015, Washington-based Radio Free Asia reported that a researcher had spotted a new helipad at Mr 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 Mr Kim's family or visitors. | 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 Mr Kim's family or visitors. |
| Reporting by Shreyas Reddy, Alistair Coleman and Kelly Ng | Reporting by Shreyas Reddy, Alistair Coleman and Kelly Ng |
| BBC Monitoring reports and analyses news from TV, radio, web and print media around the world. You can follow BBC Monitoring on Twitter and Facebook. | BBC Monitoring reports and analyses news from TV, radio, web and print media around the world. You can follow BBC Monitoring on Twitter and Facebook. |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Kim Jong Un | Kim Jong Un |
| Asia | Asia |
| BBC Monitoring | BBC Monitoring |
| North Korea | North Korea |