Bruce Songhak Chung is the deputy director of the Geo Satellite tv for pc Data Analysis Institute at Kyungpook Nationwide College in South Korea. Utilizing Google Earth, he recognized as many as 30 luxurious villas and several other non-public islands utilized by North Korean chief Kim Jong Un and his household on trip. He additionally noticed a fleet of 5 supersize yachts, considered one of which has a four-lane, Olympic-sized swimming pool.
The extravagance of the Kim household life-style is a stark distinction to the dwelling situations of the vast majority of North Koreans, who battle to make ends meet in an economic system devastated by worldwide sanctions and a prolonged commerce pause with China because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The sanctions, imposed in response to North Korea’s nuclear ambitions, are supposed to stop imports of luxurious items into the nation, however, as Chung’s analysis exhibits, they haven’t prevented the primary household from persevering with to reside the excessive life.
Chung lately introduced his findings to RFA’s Korean Service. The interview has been edited for size and readability.
RFA: What number of of Kim Jong Un’s luxurious villas have you ever recognized by way of satellite tv for pc pictures?
Chung: There are 20 to 30 unique luxurious villas in North Korea utilized by the household of Basic Secretary Kim Jong Un. Amongst them, Basic Secretary Kim is especially keen on his villa in Wonsan, Kangwon province, his hometown. The Wonsan facility, as seen from the satellite tv for pc pictures, is provided with luxurious cruise ships, a marina, a horse-riding vary, a capturing vary, a water play space and lots of different splendid leisure amenities. In 2013, Dennis Rodman, a former basketball participant from america, was invited there twice, in February and September, as Kim confirmed off his luxurious pleasure amenities.
RFA: What does the Wonsan facility seem like within the newest satellite tv for pc imagery? What amenities are you able to see?
Chung: There’s a lengthy, gentle, white sand seashore in entrance of the Wonsan villa. The sandy seashore is legendary for its excellent surroundings. His father, [former leader] Kim Jong Il, additionally loved fishing and swimming right here. The size of the white sand seashore is 530 meters (0.3 miles), and there about 10 giant and small villas situated on the seashore, they usually have good views. In the event you take a look at the satellite tv for pc picture taken in January 2022, you’ll be able to see the 50-meter (164 ft) lengthy cruise ship with a blue roof in entrance of the villa. In entrance of the seashore, you may also see a constructing the place Secretary Kim had lunch with Rodman. The strolling trails and gardens are effectively maintained. At a look, you’ll be able to inform that it’s a large-scale villa advanced.
RFA: You additionally have been in a position to determine Kim Jong Un’s cruise ships. Is it true that considered one of them has a world standard-sized swimming pool and a waterslide?
Chung: Sure, Basic Secretary Kim owns luxurious cruise ships. We recognized 4 cruise ships thus far on the Wonsan villa. The lengths of cruise ships are 50, 55, 60 and 80 meters (262.4 toes). Moreover these, he owns many smaller luxurious boats. On the deck of the 80-meter cruise ship, we will see a 2.5-meter broad pool that has 4 50-meter lanes. That makes worldwide customary dimension and 4 folks can compete on the similar time. We are able to additionally see 4 round slides. Lately, the 55-meter lengthy cruise ship has been refurbished. Its roof deck has been expanded from 20 meters to 40 meters and freshly painted.
RFA: Was it confirmed that considered one of Kim’s luxurious cruise ships disappeared?
Chung: Sure. Thus far, a complete of 5 luxurious cruise ships have been recognized within the satellite tv for pc pictures. One among them has now been retired, and solely 4 stay. That one was 60 meters lengthy and 9 meters broad, and it disappeared in November 2017. In line with international media studies, the cruise ship had reached the tip of its lifespan and it was dismantled and decommissioned. Basic Secretary Kim’s cruise ships have been all typically launched within the Nineteen Nineties. Every ship’s life expectancy is estimated to be about 30 years.
RFA: Has something in these luxurious ships violated U.N. sanctions in opposition to North Korea? Do we now have any satellite tv for pc proof of sanctions violations?
Chung: I consider that these cruise ships have been launched within the Nineteen Nineties beneath Kim Jong Il. The U.N. sanctions in opposition to North Korea have been applied from the mid-2000s due to North Korea’s steady missile and nuclear exams. Due to this fact, these cruise ships will need to have been launched earlier than that. Luxurious items are prohibited objects from commerce with North Korea by U.N. sanctions, however North Korea secretly purchases luxurious objects comparable to vehicles, boats and costly whiskey, so they appear to have the ability to discover a option to buy this stuff.
RFA: After Rodman visited the realm, he had lots to say about a number of the surrounding islands. Are they seen on the satellite tv for pc images as effectively?
Chung: There are three stunning islands. Their names are Sa-do, Tongdok-do and Chon-do. Every island has ship berthing amenities and their very own villas too. Rodman, who visited North Korea twice in 2013, stated in an interview with The Solar, a British each day, that the luxurious villa on a type of islands was like a seven-star luxurious lodge. In the event you look down on the island, the villa is located in a forested space. Rodman stated it was extra improbable than a luxurious trip in Hawaii or Spain. Even the richest folks within the U.S. wouldn’t have been in a position to take pleasure in such luxurious. I can not think about how huge the inside [of the villa] is. Nonetheless, in the event you take a look at the satellite tv for pc picture, you’ll be able to see that every island has well-established leisure amenities and is effectively organized.
RFA: Kim Jong Un’s villas, luxurious cruise ships and fantasy islands appear to be a grave departure from the lives of unusual North Koreans immediately. Would you agree?
Chung: I’ve analyzed Kim’s villas and luxurious cruise ships for a very long time. They’re all the time stored in pristine situation. I consider lots of assets and cash go into sustaining them. The villas and cruise ships of the Kim household are so splendid that unusual residents can not even think about [what they are like]. Alternatively, I heard that North Koreans who have no idea something [about the resorts] are nervous about Basic Secretary Kim, saying ‘Our nice chief worries concerning the folks a lot that he suffers in sacrifice by consuming solely rice balls and sleeping for just some hours [each day].’ I really feel frightened of how propaganda works so effectively 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.
