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BBC analysis of satellite imagery reveals an 80m luxury vessel with a 50m pool near Kim Jong-un's Wonsan villa, contrasting with widespread undernourishment in North Korea.
Satellite imagery analyzed by the BBC indicates that a large luxury vessel has been operating near North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's seaside villa in Wonsan from July to mid-October 2026. The vessel, described as an 80m (263ft) superyacht, features a 50m swimming pool and multiple waterslides. This activity contrasts sharply with reports from the United Nations that approximately 40% of North Korea's population is undernourished.
The BBC tracked four large vessels measuring approximately 50m, 55m, 60m, and 80m in the waters off the Kalma Peninsula, near the Wonsan resort. The largest vessel, the 80m yacht, was observed moving from a maintenance facility to the waters off the Kalma Peninsula in early July, where it remained through mid-October. Satellite images also showed four smaller boats alongside the 50m vessel, which experts say likely ferried people, fuel, and supplies.
Ri Jong Ho, a former official at the Workers' Party's Office 39, which is believed to manage foreign currency for the leadership, explained the seasonal pattern of these vessels. "In winter, they would keep them at the shipyard. When summer came, they would bring them out and move them to Kim Jong Un's villa or towards Kalma, and use them for swimming and recreation," Ri said.
While the exact cost of the vessels is unknown, comparable luxury yachts range from tens of millions to over $100m (£75m). Kim Jong-un’s previously reported 29-metre Princess yacht was estimated to be worth about $7m. This display of wealth stands in contrast to the economic conditions of the general population. According to a 2025 UN report, most North Koreans live under "systematic, widespread and gross human rights violations" with chronic food shortages.
The report notes that while workers are legally entitled to 14 days of annual leave, this is rarely followed. Travel is tightly controlled, requiring official permission to move outside one's city or county. A South Korean news report, citing an unnamed source, stated that some locals were offered four-night tour packages to the Wonsan Kalma resort for around $100, a substantial sum given that North Korea's per capita GDP was around $667 in 2024.
The BBC’s analysis of historical satellite imagery found a large vessel with similar characteristics in Wonsan in 2002, during the rule of Kim Jong Il. Former NBA star Dennis Rodman, who visited North Korea in 2013, described a 60m vessel used during his visit as a "cross between a ferry and a Disney boat," though it is unclear if this is the same vessel seen in recent imagery.
North Korean state media rarely reports on Kim’s holidays, typically framing such visits as official inspections. However, defectors interviewed by the BBC indicated awareness that the leadership family spends holidays in Wonsan. The Wonsan Kalma resort, which opened in July 2025, has reportedly received small groups of Russian tourists, according to state media and Russian outlets.
Sources
This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.
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