Satellite imagery captured between July and mid-October this year has tracked an 80-metre luxury vessel equipped with a 50-metre swimming pool and waterslides operating off North Korea’s Wonsan coast.
The vessel moved in early July to waters off the Kalma Peninsula, near a sprawling seaside estate used by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and his family, after remaining idle for months at a maintenance facility, reports BBC.
A BBC analysis found that the vessel was part of a fleet of four large luxury vessels repeatedly spotted near the leadership’s Wonsan villa.
Four luxury vessels spotted near Kim’s estate
The four main vessels measure approximately 50 metres, 55 metres, 60 metres and 80 metres, and all were seen near Kim’s estate during the summer. While the 80-metre vessel remained off the Kalma Peninsula, the 50-metre and 55-metre vessels were observed near Tae and Sin islands until late August.
Four smaller tender boats were filmed alongside the 50-metre vessel. Satellite imagery expert Jeong Seong-hak said the boats were used to transport passengers, fuel and supplies. He explained that small islands such as Tae and Sin offer secluded maritime retreats where the regime can maintain privacy away from public view.
The 60-metre vessel was detected near Kim’s Wonsan villa as recently as last week.
Although the exact cost of the fleet remains unknown, comparable luxury yachts can cost tens of millions of dollars, with some priced at more than $100 million (£75 million). Kim’s smaller, 29-metre Princess yacht was previously estimated to be worth $7 million.
Former North Korean officials, defectors and experts said only individuals connected to the country’s top leadership could own or operate vessels of this size.
Historical satellite imagery analysed by the BBC showed a vessel with identical characteristics in Wonsan as early as 2002, during the rule of Kim Jong Il.
Former NBA star Dennis Rodman, who visited Wonsan in 2013, described riding a 60-metre vessel that resembled a cross between a ferry and a Disney boat. He also recalled jet-skiing and horse riding with Kim Jong Un.
Lavish lifestyle contrasts with widespread poverty
The lavish lifestyle of the ruling elite stands in stark contrast to the harsh economic conditions faced by ordinary North Koreans. Classified by the United Nations as one of the world’s poorest countries, North Korea allocates substantial resources to its military, including funding for its sanctioned nuclear programme.
A 2025 UN report found that most citizens endure gross and systematic human rights violations, total state control, widespread forced labour and chronic food shortages, leaving 40 per cent of the population undernourished.
According to UN estimates, North Korea’s per capita gross domestic product (GDP) in 2024 stood at just $667, compared with $36,227 in South Korea.
Ri Jong Ho, a former official at the Workers’ Party’s Office 39, which was responsible for managing foreign currency for the leadership, explained that the vessels are kept in shipyards during winter before being moved to Wonsan and Kalma for summer leisure.
Ri highlighted what he described as the hypocrisy of state propaganda portraying Kim as a selfless “leader of the people” while he enjoys four luxury yachts as ordinary citizens struggle to secure daily meals.
The movements of the fleet also coincide with gaps in Kim’s public appearances, suggesting private leisure trips that state media typically presents as official guidance or inspections.
Wonsan’s role as a family retreat
Wonsan holds deep personal significance for Kim, who spent part of his childhood there with his mother. The area continues a retreat tradition associated with the ruling family since his father’s reign.
A former guard who spent 13 years protecting Kim Jong Il’s residences recalled seeing dozens of children and teenagers waterskiing around Wonsan during the summer months of the 1990s and early 2000s.
State media portrays Wonsan as a commercial tourism hub with high-rise hotels, sports facilities and water parks capable of accommodating nearly 20,000 visitors.
The Wonsan Kalma resort opened in July 2025 and hosted small groups of Russian tourists alongside local visitors. Four-night packages were priced at around $100, a prohibitive sum for most local residents.
Although workers and cooperative farmers are legally entitled to 14 days of annual leave, defectors said the rule is rarely enforced. Strict domestic travel permit requirements also make unrestricted movement a luxury beyond the reach of most North Koreans.
