BBC Satellite Images Reveal Four Luxury Yachts Near Kim Jong Un's Summer Retreat

Satellite imagery analysed by BBC has identified four large yachts repeatedly appearing near Kim Jong Un's villa on North Korea's Kalma Peninsula between July and mid-October 2026. The largest vessel measures 80 meters and features a 50-meter swimming pool with waterslides on its deck. Three other yachts ranging from 50 to 60 meters in length were also tracked in the same waters off Wonsan, a coastal resort city where the North Korean leadership maintains family properties.

The yachts were observed moving between a shipyard maintenance facility and the waters near Kim Jong Un's retreat. Smaller support vessels were documented ferrying personnel, fuel, and supplies to the larger boats. Satellite imagery expert Jeong Seong-hak noted that smaller nearby islands provided secluded maritime leisure areas away from public view. The movement patterns of the yachts coincided with periods when Kim Jong Un was absent from public appearances, though the imagery alone does not definitively confirm his presence on board.

Defectors and experts interviewed by BBC stated that ownership or unrestricted use of vessels of this size would be effectively impossible for anyone outside North Korea's ruling elite. Ri Jong Ho, a former official from the regime's Bureau 39 (responsible for managing foreign currency for leadership), described the seasonal pattern: "In winter, they kept these ships at the shipyard. In summer, they took them out and either sailed to Kim Jong Un's villa or toward the Kalma Peninsula area, using them for swimming and leisure." He noted that such vessels are rotated between dock maintenance in colder months and active use during summer months.

The yachts' estimated values range from tens of millions to over $100 million USD, though exact figures remain unknown. Kim Jong Un's smaller 29-meter Princess-model yacht has previously been valued at approximately $7 million. Satellite archives show a large vessel with similar distinctive features appeared in Wonsan in November 2002 during the leadership of Kim Jong Il, suggesting continuity of luxury yacht use across generations. Former NBA player Dennis Rodman, who visited North Korea in 2013, described leisuring on a roughly 60-meter vessel with Kim Jong Un, characterizing it as a hybrid between a ferry and a Disney cruise ship.

The luxury evident in the yachts contrasts sharply with conditions across North Korea. According to a 2025 UN report, approximately 40 percent of the population suffers from malnutrition. The country maintains a large military budget to support its nuclear program while facing international sanctions. North Korea's per capita GDP was estimated at approximately $667 in 2024, compared to South Korea's $36,227. The vast majority of North Korean citizens have restricted freedom of movement; workers are theoretically entitled to 14 days annual leave, but this is rarely implemented, and travel requires official permission. North Korea's state media rarely publicizes Kim Jong Un's vacations, typically describing such trips as official inspections or guidance activities.