Luxury boat with pool and slides spotted near Kim Jong Un's Wonsan retreat

An 80-metre luxury vessel has been repeatedly spotted in satellite images off North Korea's Wonsan coast from July to mid-October. The boat, which features a 50-metre swimming pool and a cluster of waterslides, was seen near the Kalma Peninsula, close to a seaside resort and villa used by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and his family. Other large vessels were also observed in the same area in images analysed from the period.

The vessel had previously sat idle for months at a maintenance facility before moving in early July to waters off the Kalma Peninsula. The images place it in an area that has long been associated with the North Korean leadership's summer use of the coast. The boat's repeated appearance over several months suggests it was not a one-off sighting.

The vessel is widely believed to be used by Kim and his family, although satellite imagery alone cannot prove who was on board. Former North Korean officials, defectors and experts say it would be difficult for anyone unconnected to the leadership to own or freely use a vessel of this size. One former official, Ri Jong Ho, said such boats would typically be kept at a shipyard in winter and brought out in summer for use near Kim's villa or towards Kalma.

The sighting is notable because it offers a rare glimpse into the private world of North Korea's ruling circle, where wealth and access are tightly controlled. North Korea is widely assessed to be one of the world's poorest countries, while the leadership is believed to enjoy access to luxury goods and facilities that are out of reach for most citizens. The contrast is politically sensitive because it sits alongside sanctions, a large military budget and the country's nuclear programme.

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The broader context is that Wonsan has long been linked to the Kim family's leisure use, and the Kalma Peninsula has been developed as part of that coastal area. The images also showed a handful of other large vessels near Kim's villa, reinforcing the view that the coastline is used by the leadership for recreation. The movement of these boats may also help analysts track seasonal patterns in how the regime uses its coastal facilities.

The exact ownership of the vessel, the identities of anyone using it and the full purpose of the other boats remain unclear. Satellite images can show location and movement, but not who is aboard or how the vessels are being used at any given time. What remains to be seen is whether further imagery will show continued activity around Wonsan and whether the boat's presence aligns with any future public appearances by Kim Jong Un.

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