North Korean leader Kim Jong Un appears to be building another private train station and horse track near his mansions on the east coast, according to NK Pro analysis of satellite imagery.

The construction comes after Kim built a similar private train station in the capital in 2020, suggesting that he may be looking to alternatives to flying and unsecured train stations due to apparent security concerns.

Kim built private runways at mansions around the country before demolishing most of them in recent years to build top-of-the-line horse tracks and other equestrian facilities.

Kim also poured considerable state resources into building a new sprawling lakeside mansion and new underground buildings at his Pyongyang office complex last year, as well as a personal beach resort in 2019 and upgrading his fleet of megayachts.

The DPRK leader’s consistent prioritization of personal luxuries contrasts starkly with the country’s dire overall economic conditions, as state media pleads with ordinary people to endure hardships and sacrifice to defend Kim and his family dictatorship.

LUXURY JUNCTION

The new train station construction site is located on the border of Hamhung City and Rakwon County, along a secure coastal road linking the Majon and Soho beach mansion complexes Kim Jong Un inherited from his father.

The stretch of coastline seems to be a favorite of the North Korean leader, as he has used beaches at his Majon mansion and elite Majon Hotel next door to launch missiles numerous times recently. He also posed on a horse there for a propaganda film released in early 2022.

The new station is close to the entrances of the Majon Resort (마전유원지) public beach and elite Kim Jong Suk Naval University as well.

Planet Labs satellite imagery shows that construction started in the last days of Dec. 2022. Construction crews began building small bridges to connect a new railway to the station in March, before installing roofing on the enclosed station in the second half of June. It appeared nearly finished by mid-July and could be ready to open this summer.

NK Pro analysis suggests the project is a private train station for the DPRK leader and his family, due to similarities in its appearance with a slightly larger one he recently built at what is believed to be his main private palace complex in northeast Pyongyang. 

Both stations feature long, raised gable roof ridges of similar length and columns along their outer walls. The Pyongyang station measures almost 1,200 feet (365 meters) long by 137 feet (42 meters) wide, while the new one on Majon beach is 985 feet (300 meters) long by 82 feet (25 meters) wide. 

Another clue to the new station’s purpose is that North Korean train stations are typically only built with roof structures covering their entire length if they are located in city centers or on Kim family properties. In the latter case, this likely provides added security and comfort for the leadership.

A different train station already exists just over half a mile (1 km) to the south in front of the Majon Resort beach, suggesting it is unlikely the new station is for visitors to the beach. 

Though the Majon mansion is around 3.5 miles (5.5 km) to the south of the new station construction site, Kim would presumably want a dedicated private station since there does not appear to already be one at the property. The location is tucked away in a valley, while other spots closer to the mansion would be more exposed.

A private station already exists at the Soho complex, where Kim had construction crews overhaul an apartment tower-like mansion from 2020 to 2021, but he could use the new one when visiting either property due to its higher security.

Kim could be planning to spend more time in the area in the near future either to relax at or launch missiles from these mansions. 

He could also be planning to spend more time on military programs: North Korea unveiled an “underwater nuclear attack drone” program in development in the area this year, and major submarine projects are in progress in Sinpho just to the northeast. Multiple important weapons production facilities are also in nearby Hamhung, and the Rakwon east sea naval fleet headquarters is located in the backyard of Kim’s Soho mansion.

Meanwhile, NK Pro has found that the largest mansion at Kim’s Pyongyang complex (where the enclosed train station was built) was reroofed in mid-June, according to Planet Labs imagery, suggesting he continues to use the facility. 

ANOTHER HORSE TRACK?

A new oval track that could be used for horse riding appeared on a pristine beach along the secure road just up the coast from the new train station site between late April and early May. New work on the track’s inner grassy area appeared to start on July 5 and was still ongoing as of the latest clear Planet Labs image taken on July 6.

Small buildings under construction next to the track could be stables, but further satellite imagery analysis in the coming weeks is needed to determine for certain whether the site is an equestrian facility.  

However, its location right along the secure road that leads directly into the entrance of the Soho mansion 2.5 miles (4 km) up the coast — separate from a parallel public road — suggests it is somehow connected to the Kim family.

This follows the mysterious and rapid construction of new horse tracks and related facilities at a dozen or more major military bases in late 2022.

Edited by Bryan Betts