North Korea has not been a closed state for a long time - it willingly welcomes tourists, organizes an interesting program for them, provides them with good housing conditions and accompaniment in the form of guides who speak different languages. But until now, everything that concerns this amazing state arouses burning interest among the general public, for example, the world press discusses the armored train of the leader of North Korea: what is inside, what does Kim Jong-un's salons look like, what is the degree of protection of the carriages.
The first car
Throughout their country, the leaders of North Korea prefer to travel on well-protected trains. Moreover, Kim Jong-un and his two predecessors also made their official foreign voyages by rail.
It is believed that an attack on an armored train is much more difficult than on an airplane or car.
North Korean leaders had private coaches as far back as the last century. In the 1940s, Kim Il Sung moved with his guerrilla unit from Manchuria, captured by the Japanese, to the Soviet Union. In 1945, the future founder of the North Korean state was returning home in his own carriage, which was presented to him by Stalin.
A carefully guarded history
The personal carriages of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il, the grandfather and father of the current head of North Korea, are kept in the Mausoleum of Two Kims, which is officially called the Kumsusan Sun Memorial Palace. Kim Il Sung lived in this palace and is buried here. 17 years after the death of Kim Il Sung, his son Kim Jong Il passed away. His sarcophagus is also located here.
The Kim Mausoleum is a series of huge halls, in which, in addition to tombs, the personal belongings of the leaders are located. This is a kind of museum, the exhibits of which are the wagons in which the Kims traveled around the country. Near each car there are information stands, where the "mileage" of the cars, the time the leaders stayed in the cars, the number of negotiations that were held during the trips, etc. are mentioned. The data on the car reconstruction is also carefully recorded.
And all this is slowly and unhurriedly read to foreigners who come to North Korea and visit the Kim Mausoleum. The purpose of this torture is to demonstrate the greatness of the local leaders.
Modern train
Kim Jong-un, as President of North Korea, actively operates his own train. They say that he traveled by train for about 350 thousand km.
The train of the DPRK leader consists of 12-17 cars. Photos of only some of the interiors of President Kim Jong-un's modern train have been leaked to the press. His train includes:
- the locomotive with the number DF0002 - under the DF0001 marking, Kim Jong-un's father traveled;
- a mobile power plant, which is a guarantee of the uninterrupted operation of the vital functions of the train and the comfort of important passengers;
- 2 dining carriages, where the leader of North Korea, his family, officials who travel with him, and service personnel of the railway train are fed;
- the president's private carriage, which has a compartment and his bodyguards;
- a negotiation car with sofas along the windows;
- 4 carriages for personnel;
- a carriage in which his cars travel together with the leader.
In fact, the DPRK Marshal has 6 trains and 90 armored interchangeable wagons at his disposal. Due to the enhanced protection, each carriage weighs from 60 to 80 tons, so the train cannot reach high speed. The train of the leader of the North Korean state travels slowly and steadily at a speed of about 60 km / h.
The assistants who operate the train travel in the most ordinary carriages. Only the carriages intended for Kim and his entourage have been reinforced.
The train of the leader of North Korea is accompanied by a whole staff of servants. It is interesting that, in addition to traditional stewards, snipers who protect the president, and girls, whose task is to ensure the owner's leisure, travel with the leader.
Interiors
The fact that Kim and his officials' coupes are furnished with the utmost luxury is beyond doubt. The public was recently shown photographs of only the saloon car where the North Korean leader held a meeting with the Chinese during his visit to the PRC.
The carriage is decorated in gentle colors. Against the backdrop of white walls, spectacular pinkish-lilac sofas stand out, each of which is designed for one person. The floor is provided with a light carpet covering.
A glimpse of the preferences of North Korea's top leadership can be gained by inspecting the carriages of Kim Jong-un's two predecessors.
Kim Jong Il's private carriage, for example, has a real office with a huge wooden table and a soft leather resting kit. The floor is paved with fine wood parquet.
