Recent satellite imagery released by the BBC reveals an 80‑metre (263‑foot) luxury vessel cruising off North Korea’s Wonsan coast. The ship’s most striking feature is a 50‑metre swimming pool that runs along its deck, flanked by a cluster of waterslides. Its movements, tracked from July to mid‑October 2024, place it repeatedly near the Kalma Peninsula – a strip of coastline that houses a sprawling villa used by Kim Jong Un and his family as a summer retreat.
Satellite evidence of a lavish yacht
Analysts identified the vessel in a series of satellite photographs, noting that after months of idleness at a maintenance facility it was relocated in early July to waters off the Kalma Peninsula. The same analysis also recorded three other large boats – measuring roughly 50 m, 55 m and 60 m – that lingered around the same area and near Kim’s Wonsan villa. The 80‑metre ship displayed the clearest activity, moving from a dock to the Kalma waters and remaining there for the bulk of the observation period.
Why experts link the yacht to the regime
Former North Korean officials, defectors and regional experts argue that vessels of this size are unlikely to be owned or operated by anyone outside the inner circle of the regime. Ri Jong Ho, a former official of the Workers’ Party’s Office 39 – the department believed to manage foreign currency for the leadership – explained that such yachts are kept in shipyards during winter and brought out for “swimming and recreation” when summer arrives. He added that the vessels are typically moved toward Kim Jong Un’s villa or the Kalma area for private use.
Contrasting luxury with everyday hardship
The presence of a 50‑metre pool and waterslides on a private yacht underscores the stark disparity between the North Korean elite and the broader population. United Nations estimates place the country’s per‑capita GDP at around $667 in 2024, while a comparable luxury yacht can cost anywhere from tens of millions to over $100 million. By contrast, a South Korean news report cited an unnamed source saying that local North Koreans are offered four‑night tour packages for roughly $100 – a sum that would be prohibitive for most citizens.
Defectors interviewed by the BBC confirm that ordinary workers, office staff and cooperative farmers are legally entitled to 14 days of annual leave, but this entitlement is rarely honoured. Even when leave is granted, travel outside one’s home county requires official permission, making a weekend trip or a holiday at a seaside resort a rare luxury.
Uncertainties and limits of the evidence
While the satellite record clearly shows the vessel’s location, it cannot definitively prove the presence of Kim Jong Un or his family on board at any given moment. The BBC notes that the vessels’ movements overlap with gaps in the leader’s public appearances, suggesting they may be used for private recreation, but the exact timing of any personal use remains unverified. Additionally, the historical record shows a similarly sized vessel in Wonsan in 2002, during Kim Jong Il’s rule, indicating that such yachts may have long‑standing ties to the ruling family.
What the yacht tells us about North Korea’s hidden wealth
North Korean state media rarely publicises the leader’s leisure activities, framing visits to Wonsan as official inspections. Yet defectors and intelligence reports consistently describe the area as a favored retreat for the Kim family, complete with high‑rise hotels, restaurants, sports facilities and water parks. The Kalma resort, opened in July 2025, is marketed to both foreign tourists and local elites, further blurring the line between public propaganda and private indulgence.
In sum, the satellite‑derived image of an 80‑metre yacht with a 50‑metre pool near Kim Jong Un’s summer villa provides a rare visual clue into the opulent lifestyle that exists alongside a nation grappling with severe economic hardship and widespread human‑rights concerns. While the exact details of who uses the vessel remain uncertain, the sheer scale of the yacht and its amenities stand as a stark illustration of the regime’s capacity to allocate resources to personal luxury, even as the majority of its citizens struggle for basic necessities.
