Kim Jong Un's Armored Train: A Family Tradition of Secure Travel

Kim Jong Un's Journey to Beijing

• 🚀 Kim Jong Un recently traveled to Beijing for a military parade commemorating the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, opting for his signature armored green train.
• 🤝 He was welcomed by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and the Mayor of Beijing, with his daughter also accompanying him on this rare trip outside North Korea.

The Kim Family's Fear of Flying

• ✈️ Kim Jong Un's father, Kim Jong-il, and grandfather, Kim Il Sung, reportedly feared flying, possibly stemming from an incident in 1982 involving a jet test flight explosion.
• 🌍 This fear led North Korean leaders to largely abandon air travel, with Kim Jong-il exclusively using armored trains for international trips.

Advantages of the Armored Train

• 🛡️ The armored train, known as the 'Tyang Ho' or 'moving fortress,' offers superior security and comfort compared to North Korea's aging aircraft fleet.
• 🗺️ It provides a strategic advantage, allowing for unpredictable movements, route changes, and adjusted stop times, making Kim's travel harder to track.
• 🚄 Security measures include aerial cover from helicopters and planes, track shutdowns, tinted windows, and multiple carriages reinforced with bulletproof siding.

Train Amenities and Limitations

• 🏢 The train is equipped with Kim's office, advanced communication systems, a restaurant, and even carriages for transporting armored vehicles.
• 🐢 However, the heavy armor significantly reduces its speed to approximately 60 km per hour.

Kim Jong Un's Modern Travel Habits

• ✈️ Unlike his predecessors, Kim Jong Un does not appear to have a fear of flying and has made several overseas trips by air, including using a private aircraft and commercial flights.
• 📍 Despite his willingness to fly, the armored train remains his preferred mode of travel, a continuation of a long-standing family tradition.