What changed
Satellite images show an 80-metre luxury vessel repeatedly off North Korea’s Wonsan coast from July to mid-October 2026. The boat has a 50-metre swimming pool and waterslides, and moved from a maintenance facility to waters near Kim Jong Un’s villa on the Kalma Peninsula. Other large vessels were also seen near the retreat.
Why it matters
The boat is a striking glimpse of how North Korea’s leadership spends time away from official appearances. Its movements overlap with gaps in Kim’s public schedule, suggesting the vessels may reveal private activity that state media rarely acknowledges, though location data alone cannot prove who was aboard or who owns them.
The contrast is hard to miss. Comparable yachts can cost tens of millions of dollars, with some exceeding $100m. Kim’s smaller Princess yacht was previously estimated at about $7m. Meanwhile, a 2025 UN report said chronic food shortages leave an estimated 40% of North Korea’s population undernourished, alongside widespread forced labour and severe rights abuses.
Wonsan has long been associated with the ruling family. The Wonsan Kalma resort opened in July 2025 and was developed to attract visitors, but the nearby villas remain a private playground for the elite. The pool and slides are not just luxury details; they show the sharp divide between the resort image North Korea presents and the insulated world around its leadership.
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