North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has once again made headlines for the way he travelled to China for the SCO meet. He arrived in China on his armoured green train, a mode of transport used by generations of the Kim family. On Sunday afternoon, Kim Jong Un boarded the old green train, which has become a lasting symbol of the country’s isolation and secrecy. He left Pyongyang on September 1 and crossed into China by train to attend a military parade in Beijing scheduled for September 3. According to CNN, North Korea’s state media has confirmed this mode of travel. Photos showed Kim Jong Un sitting at a wooden table with the North Korean flag behind him, joined by senior officials, including Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui.
Why Kim Jong UN Use Train To Travel?
Kim continues to rely on his slow yet secure mode of travel, a practice that has become a family tradition. The green train, marked with yellow stripes, has long been associated with the Kim dynasty. His father, Kim Jong Il, was known to avoid flying and preferred to travel abroad by train, including a notable visit to Russia in 2002 during a period of eased sanctions.
Taeyangho- Kim’s Bullet Proof Train
Taeyangho is often dubbed as a ‘moving fortress’. According to media reports, the train travels at a speed of just 60 kilometres per hour, taking 20 hours to reach Beijing. It is said that North Korean leaders often wanted multiple trains for security reasons. The trains usually have 10 to 15 carriages. Some are reserved for Kim Jong Un and come with bedrooms and lounges, while others carry security guards and medical staff. The train also has an office for the leader, communication equipment, a restaurant, and carriages for two armoured Mercedes cars. In 2018, North Korean state TV aired a video showing Kim inside a spacious train car, furnished with pink couches, as he met top Chinese officials.
Fresh photos released on Tuesday offered another glimpse inside, this time revealing his office and desk. On the desk sat a gold-embossed laptop, several telephones, Kim’s trademark cigarette box, and bottles filled with blue and clear liquids.
