Satellite Images Reveal Luxury Boat Near Kim Jong Un’s Retreat

Satellite images analysed by the BBC have revealed that a massive luxury boat has been repeatedly spotted off North Korea’s Wonsan coast between July and mid-October. The 80-metre (263ft) vessel features a prominent 50-metre swimming pool along its deck accompanied by a cluster of waterslides at one end.

After sitting idle at a maintenance facility for months, the vessel relocated in early July to waters off the Kalma Peninsula near Wonsan, a seaside resort containing a sprawling villa used by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and his family. The BBC tracked four large vessels measuring approximately 50, 55, 60, and 80 metres near the property this year.

Luxury Boat Movements Near Wonsan Resort

Former North Korean officials, defectors, and experts note that individuals unconnected to the regime’s leadership cannot freely own or use vessels of this size. Ri Jong Ho, a former official at the Workers’ Party’s Office 39, explained that the vessels are kept at shipyards during winter and brought out in summer for swimming and recreation near Kim Jong Un’s villa or Kalma.

While vessel locations do not definitively establish the family’s exact whereabouts, their movements often overlap with gaps in Kim’s public appearances. Wonsan has long historical ties to the ruling family, having been used as a retreat since the rule of Kim Jong Il. Former NBA star Dennis Rodman previously recounted spending time with Kim Jong Un around Wonsan during a 2013 visit, describing a 60-metre vessel used during the trip.

Contrasting Wealth and Hardship in North Korea

The vast expenditure required to purchase and maintain vessels that comparable luxury yacht experts estimate can cost from tens of millions to over $100 million stands in stark contrast to the wider economy. The United Nations classifies North Korea as one of the world’s poorest countries, heavily funding a sanctioned nuclear program while a majority of the population faces severe economic hardship.

According to a United Nations report, most North Koreans live under systematic human rights violations with state-controlled labor and chronic food shortages leaving roughly 40% of the population undernourished. While state propaganda portrays the supreme leader as selfless, defectors point out that such extreme luxury remains entirely out of reach for ordinary citizens, who face strict travel restrictions and limited leisure time.

Source: Photos show luxury boat with 50m pool and water slides near Kim Jong Un's summer retreat (source-feed timestamp 2026-10-17T22:09:50+00:00). AI-assisted report based on the cited linked article and its RSS feed; details were not independently verified.