'Fortress On Wheels': Inside North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un's Bulletproof Train

Last Updated:September 02, 2025, 23:38 IST

Kim’s train is no ordinary locomotive. According to experts, it is a heavily armoured vehicle designed for maximum safety

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un waves before boarding his train. (AFP file photo)

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is often seen travelling not by plane, but aboard a heavy, armoured train. The olive-green locomotive, velvet curtains, and steel-reinforced walls, this train is more than a vehicle – it’s a symbol of security, legacy, and political theatre.

Here’s a closer look at Kim’s bulletproof train, his preferred method of travel for both domestic and international journeys.

Family Tradition

Kim Jong Un’s love for train travel is not just a personal quirk, it’s a family tradition. His father, Kim Jong Il, famously feared flying and almost never used planes. Instead, he travelled long distances by train, including a 24-day round trip to Moscow in 2001, covering over 20,000 kilometres.

The train was well-stocked with luxury items such as fresh lobster and expensive French wine, according to Russian officials who were onboard.

Unlike his father, Kim Jong Un has flown several times. He used his private jet, known as Chammae-1, to travel to Singapore for a summit with US President Donald Trump in 2018. He has also flown to China and was even shown piloting a plane in state media.

Still, he often picks the train – especially for high-profile visits. In January 2024, he travelled to China by train to attend a major military parade alongside Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

North Korean media published photos showing Kim sitting at a desk inside the carriage, working with documents and surrounded by communication tools – telephones, a laptop, a printer, and even an ashtray. The carriage interior featured dark blue velvet curtains and the national flag, offering a formal and somewhat retro feel.

Past Journeys Abroad

Since taking power in 2011, Kim Jong Un has made at least nine international trips, and most of them were by train.

• To Russia (2023): Kim spent nearly 10 days travelling by train to meet President Putin in Russia’s far east.
• To Vietnam (2019): A 60-hour train journey took him to Hanoi for a summit with US President Trump.
• To China (2018–2019): Kim made four visits to China. He used the train for his first and third visits, and flew for the others.

Interestingly, Kim has not been publicly seen using his private plane since 2018, raising questions about its reliability and maintenance.

Built Like A ‘Fortress’

Kim’s train is no ordinary locomotive. According to experts, it is a heavily armoured vehicle designed for maximum safety.

Key features of Kim’s train include bulletproof windows, reinforced floors and walls, and structural protection designed to withstand artillery shells and explosions.

“It is said to be able to withstand most artillery shells — really essentially a fortress," said Lim Eul-chul, a professor at the Institute for Far Eastern Studies in South Korea. Some analysts even believe it has built-in offensive capabilities.

While much slower than air travel, the train offers key advantages: it’s harder to track, can’t be easily shot down, and provides the ability to carry more people, documents, and equipment. Kim can even bring along vehicles and a large support team.

Symbol Of Power And Control

Kim’s use of the train is not just about security, it’s also a political move.

Travelling by train allows him to stay in the global spotlight. When Kim is on the move, the world’s media tracks every stop. A long train journey offers several days of continuous attention, especially before important diplomatic meetings.

The train passing through the countryside “makes for a powerful display to the people — a symbolic image of the leader working long hours on board, even late at night", Park Min-ju, a professor at the National Institute for Unification Education, said.

He has also used the train for domestic visits. In 2023, Kim was seen visiting flood-hit areas in North Pyongan Province. State media showed him delivering a speech from an open carriage, turning the train into a mobile stage.

(With inputs from AFP)

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The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d...

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First Published:

September 02, 2025, 23:38 IST

News explainers 'Fortress On Wheels': Inside North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un's Bulletproof Train

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