March 29, 2024
Analysis

Kim Jong Un may use Cessna aircraft

Small airfield near Kim compound raises question about Kim’s personal aircraft

New information about North Korea often prompts experts and observers to ask further questions, and the recent revelation of a small new airstrip near Wonsan is no exception. The new airstrip, which is close to a Kim family compound and likely used by North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un, is too small for most types of fixed-wing aircraft. This raises the question: What type of plane might Kim use to travel here?

The new, small airfield, located near the Kim family compound in Wonsan on the country’s east coast, was discovered on imagery from Google Earth by analyst Curtis Melvin and detailed in his analysis at North Korean Economy Watch. Because the airstrip is only about 560 meters long, it would only accommodate helicopters and small airplanes capable of taking off and landing in a short distance.

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