autoevolution
 

Kim Jong-Un’s Secret, Outrageous Megayacht Has Been Spotted

Summer is the time for making memories with family and friends, on shorter or extended vacations, in more or less exotic locales. The richer you are, the fancier the memories – as well as the locales and the means of transport used to get there.
Satellite image shows Kim Jong-Un's megayacht anchored off the Hodo Peninsula, where he's been on vacation 16 photos
Photo: NK News
The Scheherazade is a $700 million megayacht delivered to a mysterious owner in the summer of 2020The Scheherazade is a $700 million megayacht delivered to a mysterious owner in the summer of 2020The Scheherazade is a $700 million megayacht delivered to a mysterious owner in the summer of 2020The Scheherazade is a $700 million megayacht delivered to a mysterious owner in the summer of 2020The Scheherazade is a $700 million megayacht delivered to a mysterious owner in the summer of 2020The Scheherazade is a $700 million megayacht delivered to a mysterious owner in the summer of 2020$700 million Scheherazade is currently in Italy, not seized because authorities don't know who it belongs to$700 million Scheherazade is currently in Italy, not seized because authorities don't know who it belongs to$700 million Scheherazade is currently in Italy, not seized because authorities don't know who it belongs to140m Megayacht SCHEHERAZADE140m Megayacht SCHEHERAZADE140m Megayacht SCHEHERAZADE140m Megayacht SCHEHERAZADE140m Megayacht SCHEHERAZADE140m Megayacht SCHEHERAZADE
Kim Jong-Un might be a lot of things, but he is also human – and, as a human, he seems to have somewhat of a soft spot for holidaying. Independent media outlet NK News reports that the Supreme Leader’s 12-day absence from the spotlight might have something to do with him being on holiday at his favorite retreat, where he has his own patch of land, his own marina, and a garage for all his superyachts and megayachts. In the plural, that is not a typo.

On August 10, exactly 12 days after he was last seen on official duty, one of Jong-Un’s vessels was spotted at anchor off the Hodo Peninsula, close to where the family home at Wonsan is. The leader has been said to vacation here whenever he can, both on his own and with an entourage, as he prefers this spot for how secluded it is, allowing all movement to go unnoticed. Moving around unnoticed is of the essence now, as North Korea is struggling with severe flooding, which has worsened the ongoing food crisis.

Satellite imagery shows a 180-foot (55-meter) megayacht anchored at the marina, with a smaller 60-foot (18-meter) hovering nearby. The latter is either some kind of security detail or the shadow vessel for the larger one.

Speaking of the larger vessel, it’s just one of many, as per the same media outlet: Jong-Un also owns a 165-foot (50-meter) superyacht, a 195-foot (60-meter) one, and a gigantic 260-footer (80 meters), presumably the one Dennis Rodman described in 2013 as a combination between a ferry and a Disney boat. “Like Ibiza” is how the former NBA star worded it, speaking of how the dictator had the best of everything around, from service to alcohol and the most thrilling entertainment.

“He's got 50 to 60 people around him all the time – just normal people, drinking cocktails and laughing the whole time,” Rodman said at the time after he returned from a one-week stay with one of the world’s most controversial rulers. Entertainment options onboard included theme park rides, water slides, a pool, and a full-size football pitch.

Dennis Rodman was never the most reliable narrator, but the fact that he’s been to North Korea several times and called Jong-Un his “friend for life” and overall a very nice guy gives some credence to his account of the megayacht. If it doesn’t, there’s always the fact that Kim Jong-Un is a dictator that’s been in power for 11 years. If there’s one thing dictators have in common, it’s their love for multi-million toys.
If you liked the article, please follow us:  Google News icon Google News Youtube Instagram X (Twitter)

Editor's note: Because no one knows for a fact what kind of vessels Kim Jong-Un owns, photos in the gallery show another dictator's favorite water toy: Putin's Scheherazade.

About the author: Elena Gorgan
Elena Gorgan profile photo

Elena has been writing for a living since 2006 and, as a journalist, she has put her double major in English and Spanish to good use. She covers automotive and mobility topics like cars and bicycles, and she always knows the shows worth watching on Netflix and friends.
Full profile

 

Would you like AUTOEVOLUTION to send you notifications?

You will only receive our top stories