Kim Jong Un Embarks on Train Journey to China
North Korean leader's armored train carries symbolic weight and historical significance.
SEOUL — The old-fashioned train that North Korean state media Rodong Sinmun confirmed early Tuesday as carrying Kim Jong Un into China has become a symbol of the Kim dynasty and his isolated nation.
It has also long been the subject of intrigue, serving generations of Kims on rare international trips across the country.Kim's father and predecessor, Kim Jong Il, reportedly relied heavily on the train due to a fear of flying.
This preference for land travel was also exhibited during Kim’s trip to Russia in 2002, a period marked by relaxed sanctions allowing greater engagement with the outside world.
Russian state media captured images of the train—green with yellow striping—as it traversed the border city of Khasan.The lavish dinners hosted by Kim's predecessors abroad once included exotic items like live lobster and pork barbecue, according to accounts from 2002 by Konstantin Pulikovsky, a Russian official.
However, this era of openness ended abruptly in 2003 with the reimposition of international sanctions, leaving North Korea increasingly isolated.The train is known for its slow pace, averaging just 60 kilometers an hour due to its heavy armor, and boasts conference rooms, an audience chamber, bedrooms, satellite phone connections, and flat screen televisions.
For Kim Jong Il's exclusive use, about 20 stations were constructed along the routes he favored, as reported by South Korea’s Chosun Ilbo in 2009.Kim has utilized this train for international travel, including his most recent trip to Russia's far east in 2023 and a meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in 2018.
State media footage from these journeys offers glimpses into the opulent interiors, featuring polished wooden floors, ornate decor, and even pink couches for diplomatic negotiations.The train also serves as a tool for state propaganda, facilitating Kim's interactions with ordinary North Koreans on extended rail journeys.
A life-sized model of one of its carriages is displayed in Pyongyang’s mausoleum, honoring the remains of Kim’s father and grandfather.
It has also long been the subject of intrigue, serving generations of Kims on rare international trips across the country.Kim's father and predecessor, Kim Jong Il, reportedly relied heavily on the train due to a fear of flying.
This preference for land travel was also exhibited during Kim’s trip to Russia in 2002, a period marked by relaxed sanctions allowing greater engagement with the outside world.
Russian state media captured images of the train—green with yellow striping—as it traversed the border city of Khasan.The lavish dinners hosted by Kim's predecessors abroad once included exotic items like live lobster and pork barbecue, according to accounts from 2002 by Konstantin Pulikovsky, a Russian official.
However, this era of openness ended abruptly in 2003 with the reimposition of international sanctions, leaving North Korea increasingly isolated.The train is known for its slow pace, averaging just 60 kilometers an hour due to its heavy armor, and boasts conference rooms, an audience chamber, bedrooms, satellite phone connections, and flat screen televisions.
For Kim Jong Il's exclusive use, about 20 stations were constructed along the routes he favored, as reported by South Korea’s Chosun Ilbo in 2009.Kim has utilized this train for international travel, including his most recent trip to Russia's far east in 2023 and a meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in 2018.
State media footage from these journeys offers glimpses into the opulent interiors, featuring polished wooden floors, ornate decor, and even pink couches for diplomatic negotiations.The train also serves as a tool for state propaganda, facilitating Kim's interactions with ordinary North Koreans on extended rail journeys.
A life-sized model of one of its carriages is displayed in Pyongyang’s mausoleum, honoring the remains of Kim’s father and grandfather.
