Analysts tracking satellite imagery have identified several large vessels repeatedly appearing off North Korea’s Wonsan coast during the summer and early fall months. The largest vessel, measuring approximately 80 meters, features a 50-meter swimming pool with waterslides and was relocated from a maintenance facility in early July to waters near the Kalma Peninsula, adjacent to a sprawling villa compound used by Kim Jong Un and his family.
Former North Korean officials and regime defectors indicated that vessels of this size would be extraordinarily difficult for ordinary citizens or mid-level officials to operate or maintain, suggesting their use is restricted to the country’s highest leadership. According to former Workers’ Party officials, the practice follows a seasonal pattern in which such vessels remain docked during winter months and are moved to recreational areas during summer. The BBC identified four large vessels in the approximately 50-to-80-meter range operating near Kim’s villa throughout the period, with smaller support boats documented ferrying supplies and personnel to the larger craft. Comparable luxury yachts on the international market typically command valuations ranging from tens of millions to over $100 million.
The movements of these vessels, which correspond with gaps in Kim’s public appearances documented through state media, provide rare visibility into the leisure activities of North Korea’s leadership. Wonsan has served as a retreat location for the Kim family for decades, with some accounts suggesting Kim Jong Un spent portions of his childhood there. Historical satellite imagery analysis identified similar large vessels operating from the same location in 2002 during the rule of Kim’s father.
The documented leisure activities of the regime’s leadership contrast sharply with conditions faced by most North Koreans. According to a 2025 UN report, approximately 40 percent of the population faces chronic malnutrition, while systematic human rights restrictions limit freedom of movement and access to goods. Per capita GDP stands at approximately $667 annually, substantially below comparable regional economies. While a small middle class has emerged in Pyongyang, most citizens lack access to meaningful leisure time, with annual leave entitlements rarely honored in practice and travel outside one’s city requiring official authorization.
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