Satellite Images Reveal Luxury Yachts With Pool and Waterslides Near Kim Jong Un's Retreat
Analysis of satellite imagery shows an 80-metre leisure vessel and other large yachts operating near North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's coastal estate in Wonsan.
At a glance
- Satellite images show an 80m luxury vessel with a 50m pool and waterslides off North Korea's Kalma Peninsula near Kim Jong Un's estate.
- Former regime officials and analysts report the fleet of four tracked vessels is maintained strictly for the ruling family's recreation.
- The private displays of wealth contrast with broader conditions in North Korea, where an estimated 40% of people face undernourishment.
Satellite imagery captured between July and mid-October has revealed an 80-metre luxury vessel equipped with a 50-metre swimming pool and waterslides operating off North Korea's eastern coast near the Kalma Peninsula, waters adjacent to a sprawling seaside compound used by leader Kim Jong Un and his family.
The 80-metre boat relocated to the coastal resort area after remaining docked for months at a maintenance yard. It is one of four substantial leisure vessels tracked around Wonsan, with others measuring approximately 50, 55, and 60 metres. The 50-metre and 55-metre vessels operated near Tae and Sin islands through late August, where smaller support craft were observed ferrying supplies, fuel, and personnel to maintain seclusion.
Elite Leisure and Family Retreats
While Pyongyang does not formally disclose ownership of the fleet, defectors and former officials state that private vessels of this scale are reserved strictly for the ruling dynasty. Ri Jong Ho, a former official in the regime's foreign currency-raising apparatus, noted that the vessels are routinely kept in shipyards through the winter before being moved to Kim's residences during the summer for recreation.
Wonsan has long served as a seasonal sanctuary for the Kim family, dating back to the leadership of Kim Jong Il. Historical satellite imagery places a vessel with identical characteristics at the site as early as 2002, while former NBA player Dennis Rodman described using a 60-metre boat during a 2013 stay with the current leader.
Stark Economic Contrast
The maritime activity coincides with gaps in Kim Jong Un's official schedule, underscoring private luxuries inaccessible to ordinary citizens. United Nations estimates place North Korea's 2024 per capita GDP at approximately $667, a small fraction of South Korea's $36,227. A 2025 UN assessment noted that persistent food insecurity leaves around 40 percent of the North Korean population undernourished alongside severe restrictions on personal movement and legal leave.
Source: BBC.
Questions and answers
- What features were identified on the vessel near Wonsan?
- Satellite imagery showed an 80-metre vessel equipped with a 50-metre deck swimming pool and a cluster of waterslides.
- Who uses the luxury boats spotted in North Korean waters?
- Former officials and defectors state that vessels of this scale are maintained exclusively for leader Kim Jong Un and his family.
- How many vessels were tracked near the Kalma Peninsula?
- Satellite imagery tracked four distinct large leisure vessels around Wonsan measuring approximately 50, 55, 60, and 80 metres in length.
