- Source: Taeyangho armoured train
Since the establishment of North Korea, all three of its leaders—Kim Il Sung, Kim Jong Il and Kim Jong Un—have been known to use high-security private trains as their preferred method of domestic and international travel. The train itself is officially called Taeyangho ("sun" in Korean: 태양호), unofficially called the "Moving Fortress" and is likened to an Air Force One on rails.
History
Trains have historically been used by many global leaders and royalty, but particularly military leaders, due to their high speed, security and ability to accommodate extensive office and personal facilities within one mobile location.
Kim Il Sung used a train during the Korean War as his headquarters, and continued the preference after the cessation of hostilities. He started the building of numerous secure palaces, many of which are either directly accessed by or close to railway stations, 19 of which it is estimated are accessed only by the private trains.
Kim Jong Il's preference for the railroad transport was due to his fear of flying. Kim used the trains when he visited army units and factories or travelled abroad. The private trains still serve a network of 19 stations across North Korea (including some underground palaces only accessible by rail).
In December 2011, it was reported by North Korean television that Kim Jong Il died while on a train during a domestic trip.
Taeyangho
Over the years multiple trains - all called Taeyangho - were needed for security reasons. The trains have between 10
and 15 carriages, although the current train configuration is 20 armoured carriages excluding locomotives. It is unknown what model or type the locomotives and passenger cars are, although it is strongly hinted to be China's DF8s and 25G rolling stocks respectively. If true, the most recent train length (i.e. 2x locomotives with 20x cars) would be around 576 m (1,889.76 ft). The train has bulletproof glass and reinforced walls and floors to protect against explosives. Likewise, the train is heavily armed, with heavy weapons reportedly on board that range from at least two confirmed machine gun emplacements, surface-to-air missiles and anti-tank guided missiles.
Some carriages are only used by the leader, like a bedroom and bathroom carriage, and others are troop sleeper carriages carrying security guards and medical staff. In 2001 the train included one residential carriage (named the "headquarters" carriage), a luxury restaurant carriage, and several transport carriages that contained two armoured Mercedes cars as well as an emergency helicopter that is likely to be an illegally obtained American MD 500C. In 2023, additional carriages were identified. This includes an office carriage for Kim Jong Un's work place, several gun and anti-aircraft carriage that house the aforementioned weapons, and a receptionist carriage for guests.
The train also had satellite communication system with satellite dish connecting all the carriages.
Parts of the interior of the trains are only known from the images and videos when a state leader was traveling. The interior of the receptionist carriage has completely changed since 1989 when it was very brownish. While meeting Chinese officials in 2018, the receptionist carriage had a wide white interior which was ringed with pink couches. In 2023 the receptionist carriage looked similar but with a blue colored floor instead of a wooden floor.
There are conference rooms, with long tables and TV screens. The carriage of the office of Kim had a desk and chair; a map of China and the Korean peninsula on the wall behind it. Footage from 2020 showed a carriage decorated with flower-shaped lighting and zebra-printed fabric chairs.
Operations
The trains are usually hauled by two power units. It was reported in 2009 that Kim Jong Il made use of a fleet of six personal trains, which are made up of 90 armored luxury railcars. Each armoured train has modern communications equipment, such as satellite phones, enabling the leader to obtain briefings and issue orders while traveling.
Security measures were increased after a 2004 explosion in Ryongchon near the border with China. The explosion, which was believed to have been caused by a train laden with oil and chemicals hitting power lines, occurred three hours after one of Kim's trains had passed through the area. This led to rumors that it might have been an assassination attempt.
After a train journey is confirmed, around 100 security officers check the route and stations in advance for possible dangers. A Mil Mi-4 helicopter is known to scout ahead to identify further threats forward. The area around the journey is cleared 24 hours before the three-train set travels.
Now limited to 60 km/h (37 mph) due to the heavy weight, the Taeyangho travel with two additional auxiliary security armoured trains:
The first security train running ahead to check the safety of railway lines. The security train is a three-body configuration (1x locomotive and 2x troop sleepers) with anti-mine detection sensors.
The Taeyangho itself, which carries the leader, travels with a time delay of between 20 minutes and an hour after the first security train.
A second security train have the same layout as the first security train and carries additional security staff, followers and communications equipment.
The electricity is turned off at stations so that other trains cannot run.
Travels abroad
Trains also have been used for travel abroad, with direct connection to China, and onward connection to Russia with a gauge-change. Kim Il Sung travelled regularly abroad by train until he died in 1994. Kim Il Sung's longest train journey took place in 1984 when he visited almost every socialist country in Eastern Europe. The train ride went via China, through the Soviet Union, with stops in Poland, East Germany, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Yugoslavia, Bulgaria and Romania. The rest of the trip went through the Soviet Union, again.
When traveling to Russia the train wheels must be changed somewhere around the border because Russia has different rail gauges. A second train accompanied Kim's carrying bogies of the other gauge needed.
On Kim Jong Il's visit to Russia in 2001, the train was reported to have had 22 carriages. According to Russian statesman Konstantin Pulikovsky, life on board was reported to be luxurious. Guests could choose at the luxury restaurant from Korean, Chinese, Japanese, Russian and French dishes. There were regular stops to stock up on live lobster and Bordeaux and Beaujolais wine flown in from Paris. Guests were entertained by singing female conductors. In April 2010, North Korea watchers inferred an unannounced visit to China by Kim, based on the supposed sighting of his train in the Chinese border city of Dandong; soon, however, it was learned that the train in question was just a regular cargo train, and Kim remained in North Korea. In August 2011, Kim Jong Il visited Ulan-Ude, Russia, roughly 4,500 kilometres (2,800 mi) by train from Pyongyang. In Ulan-Ude, he met Russian President Dmitry Medvedev.
In March 2018, the Kim family's train was reportedly sighted in Beijing, which, along with heightened security around the Chinese government's Diaoyutai State Guesthouse led to speculation that Kim Jong Un and his wife Ri Sol-ju were visiting China. This was confirmed when they met with General Secretary of the Communist Party Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan. This marked the first time that North Korea's leader had left the country since taking power in 2011.
In February 2019, Kim travelled by train to the Hanoi Summit, where he met with US President Donald Trump for talks about denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and lifting sanctions against North Korea. In April 2019, Kim took the train to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Vladivostok.
In 2020, Kim travelled by train to visit a typhoon-hit area.
In September 2023, Kim's private train stopped at Khasan railway station to greet Russian officials on his way to another summit with Putin in the Russian Far East.
Kim Il Sung's other rail vehicles
When providing "on-the-spot guidance" to the workers constructing Pyongyang Metro, Kim Il Sung used a special funicular-like vehicle to descend to a station under construction (it was riding in the inclined tunnel that was to be eventually used by the escalators), and a railbus to travel around the system. Both vehicles are now on display in the Pyongyang Metro Museum.
See also
Residences of North Korean leaders
Rail transport in North Korea
Trotsky's train
Tito's Blue Train
