N. Korea: Where Kim Jong-il Sleeps and Works(his extravant playgrounds: PHOTO)

The Daily NK ^ | 03/13/05 | Han Hyong-jin

[TigerLikesRooster]

/begin my translation

Where Kim Jong-il Sleeps and Works

£ At Chang-sung Guest House, Kim Jong-il in shorts on a restaurant boat

While Kim Il-sung was alive, his son, Kim Jong-il, constructed all facilities (used) for Great Leader('s private life) below ground and interconnected them in a cob-web fashion (using tunnels,) in the name of "safeguarding the Great Leader." In reality, however, they were intended for (safeguarding) his future.

He created special military engineering corps exclusively for this kind of project and pursued the construction of fortified underground facilities for a few decades. As a result, we suspect that their expertise on digging underground is best in the world.

N. Korea, 'The Underground Republic'

Pyongyang subway is built 80-100m below ground mainly inside bedrock. Underground roads for Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il was built deeper underground than the subway. This would bring two benefits. It would raise the sense of crisis among population(note: preparation for enemy attacks) and this skill is marketable. N. Korea makes money by peddling to her friendly nations technical skills for tunneling underground facilities in anticipation of a ground war or a nuclear war.

It is Kim Jong-il's residences and villas which are the epitome of (such) underground fortification. Kim Jong-il's residences have all of their major facilities underground in anticipation of war. There are tunnels between residences, between residences and villas, and among buildings in the same villa compound.

[Kim Jong-il's Residence]

£ Kim Jong-il's Office

His office, which used to be Kim Il-sung's, is located in Central District(Joong-ku-yok), Pyongyang City. Kim Il-sung built Presidential Palace(Ju-sok-goong) in Hyong-je-san District and moved there. After a renovation in 1976, Kim Jong-il is using it as his office until now.

It is a few hundred meter long, 3 stories high, and made of reinforced concrete. Its interior is decorated with granite and marble stones. Its wall is 80cm thick, which can withstand shelling. Every entrance to the main building has 40 ton steel gate. There are seven of them. They are open and closed via remote control.

It is tough for tanks to break down the gates. They can also shield radiation exposure because lead slab is embedded in them. The building has underground passage ways, which lead to underground facilities. The building is surrounded with 11 meter high fences. There is the Russian embassy nearby, whose view is blocked by the construction of a tall building in its front.

A underground road connects it to No. 15 Residence. If you take an elevator and go down 100 meter below ground, the underground road appears. As a way of doing exercise, Kim Jong-il sometimes walk or take a bike to No. 15 Residence. The road is made of marble stone and 4-5 meter wide and 3m high. It is a six minutes' walk (to the residence.)

£ Kim Jong-il's Residence (No. 15)

This is where Kim Jong-il and Sung Hye-rim(note: his one-time mistress, now dead) lived together, located at Joong-sung-dong, Pyongyang City. Via underground road, it is connected to Kim Jong-il's Office at Central Committee Building of Korean Worker's Party(the one mentioned above.)

£ East Pyongyang Residence (No. 85)

It is located at Dae-dong-gang District, Pyongyang City. It is far larger than No. 15. Deers are raised. There are fishing grounds as well(note: Dae-dong-gang is the name of a main river in Pyongyang.)

£ Mt. Chang-kwang Residence

This is where Kim Jong-il and Ko Yong-hee(note: his recently deceased mistress) lived together. He started to settle there in 1979, after his relationship with Sung Hye-rim cooled. After Ko's death, it is anybody's guess where he lives now. This place is located at Central District, Pyongyang City.

£ Seo-jang-dong Residence, Bo-tong-gang District

(no details provided.)

£ Kim Jong-il's Official Residence(No. 16)

It is located next to the Main Building of Worker's Party at Central District, Pyongyang City. It is known as the official residence of Kim Jong-il. It is a two-storied building with entertainment facilities. Its front gate is behind the Party Foundation Building, while its rear gate is behind the Party History Institute of Central Party. Under the residence, there is also a secret passage way connected to the outside. The total ground is 4.9 acre large, and also surrounded with 11 meter high fence.

[Kim Jong-il's Villas]

We believe that Kim Jong-il has about 10 villas all over N. Korea. Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il used different villas. If you consider Kim Il-sung's villas in addition to Kim Jong-il's, we can estimate that there would be far more such villas.

£ Yong-sung 21st District (Villa)

This is the 'underground wartime headquarter' for N. Korea. Upon the outbreak of war, the (N. Korean) Supreme Command and the (government) archive, all ministries of cabinet, and all dept.'s of Worker's Party would move in. Reinforced concrete and lead slabs were reportedly used to withstand a nuclear strike. It was completed in 1983.

Anti-aircraft weapons are densely deployed around this place. Its area is as large as one city district. Enough war time supplies are provided in storage for it to sustain in isolation up to 10 years.

It is connected via underground tunnels to villas in and around Pyongyang and even has a underground railroad connection. (In particular,) It is connected to Mt. Jamo Villa 40 km away from Pyongyang, located at Soon-chon County.

£ Mt. Jamo Villa

It is also called Jangsu Villa. Its construction started in 1976, and finished in 1982. During the construction, Kim Sung-ae(Kim Il-sung's second wife, and Kim Jong-il's step-mother,) who lost power struggle with Kim Jong-il was banished here for 6 months. According to the former Party Secretary Hwang Jang-yop (the highest N. Korean defector to date,) the underground road from here to Young-won Villa(aka Kang-dong Villa,) which is 50 km away, was completed in 1996.

[Photo source: The Kim Jong-il's Chef, by Fugimoto Kenji]

£ Picture date: 06/10/1989, the main building of Kang-dong Villa. In the Guest House No. 32 in Kang-dong, 'General's Building' for Kim Il-sung, 'Building No. 1' for Kim Jong-il family, 'Building No.2' for Kim Jong-il's sister, Kim Kyong-hee(Party Director of Light Industry), and her husband, Jang Sung-taek(Party's First Vice Director,) and the 'Main Building'(which administers the whole complex) are arranged around a pond in the center with a water fountain.

£ Picture date: 06/10/1989, the 'General's Building' at Kang-dong (Villa/Guest House.)

£ Hyang-san Villa

It is located at the Horang Pass( 1,909 meter from sea level), which commands the best view in Mt. Myo-hyang. Its construction started in Nov., 1981 and completed in Jul., 1984. It was built on 500,000 square meters of land(123.55 acres,) which has large (traditional) Korean-style building complex, with one villa building and three support facilities. This is where Kim Il-sung died. Kim Jong-il never went there since.

Kim Jong-il said that the medical facilities here are as good as the central government hospital. His remark is an indication of how good villas of Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il are. Because of this, high N. Korean officials justifiably suspected a foul play in their minds, when they heard the announcement that Kim Il-sung died suddenly here even before emergency measure was taken.

Geographically speaking, Mt. Myo-hyang is located in Hyang-san County, N. Pyong-an Province. However, administratively, it was part of Central District in Pyongyang. After Kim Il-sung's death, the administrative control of Hyang-san County was returned to N. Pyong-an Province. When it was the part of Central District, Pyongyang, rations to its residents were as good as those of Pyongyang residents. Travel restriction was stiff. After the return to N. Pyong-an Province, its standard of living degenerated to the level of other ordinary rural village.

£ Shin-chon Villa

Kim Jong-il goes here for summer vacation, with his family and close associates. This is also where he plays with 'pleasure girls.'

£ Picture date: 12/02/1990, the 'Main Building' of Shin-chon Guest House(Villa.) The complex contains no large buildings. Instead, it is comprised of many small buildings spread over the compound.

£ (Picture date: 12/02/1990,) 'Building No. 5' assigned to Fugimoto Kenji is also small. He was given BMW at the time, not Mercedes.

£ (Picture date: 12/02/1990, a view from another angle,) 'Building No. 5' at Shin-chon (Villa/Guest House)

£ Wonsan Villa

Kim Jong-il and his close associates comes here during winter for duck or seal hunting. They do water-skiing here, too. Its guest records showed that the guests brought along sons, family members, and Bo-chon-bo Electric Bands(note: a famous N. Korean state music bands) played here. (From the account of Fugimoto Kenji)

£ Picture date: around 1992, Fugimoto Kenji at the main building of Wonsan Guest House

£ Picture date: 05/26/1988, Kang Kwan-ju(left) and Kim Young-myong out in the sun at Wonsan (Villa/Guest House)

£ Sam-ji-yon Villa

It is located at Potae Worker's District, 1 km south east of Sam-ji-yon Town, Sam-ji-yon County. Because of its geographical location, Kim Il-sung used to visit there in July and August. It was completed in Sept., 1980. The total area of the compound amounts to 950,000 square meters(234.74 acres.) It is made up of the villa along Sam-ji-yon lake and Potae Emergency Office.

£ Picture date: 06/16/1990, the 'Main Building' at Mt. Baekdu Guest House(aka Sam-ji-yon Villa)

£ Lake Yon-poong Villa

It is the largest of all Kim Jong-il's villa, located at Yon-poong-ri, Anju City, S. Pyong-an Province. Its construction was completed in Oct., 1966. It was once renovated in August, 1979. The total area is 300,000 square meters(74.13 acres.) The complex is made up of one villa and 10 buildings for security and support facilities.

Kim Il-sung mainly came here in spring. It is well-known for a fishing ground around the lake and a perfect hunting ground exclusively for Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il. They started making this hunting ground in 1978 and finished it in 1984. Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il also have another hunting ground for pheasants at Moo-jin-ri, Yokpo District, Pyongyang.

£ Chang-sung Villa

This is a villa with traditional Korean-style roofs. In N. Korea, they have what they call 'Agenda Discussion Portrait,' whose picture was taken here. It is on the shore of Yalu river, a scenic spot, where you can do fishing and ride jet skiing. It is reported that there is a tunnel under the villa, which would travel under the river and lead to China (on the other side of the river.)

£ Picture date: 08/25/1990, a building exclusively for General Secretary Kim Jong-il, Main Building, and one for other officials at Chang-sung (Villa)

£ Picture date: 08/25/1990, a parabolic antenna on the roof of a building is shown. Kim Jong-il installed it to watch satellite broadcasts. Kim Jong-il could always watch such broadcast not only at Chang-sung (Villa) but also everywhere he stays. He checked all channels.

£ Picture date: 09/13/1990, taken from the balcony of Chang-sung (Villa) On the left, you can see the 'Main Building.'

£ Villa No. 72 (Seoho Villa)

It is located in Yeocho, Rakwon County, S. Ham-kyong Province. It is one of the biggest in N. Korea. Even though it is 3 stories under the sea level and 7 stories above, it is as high as a 25 storied building. It is an 'underwater resort' designed to peer into 100 meter deep water. Underwater resting area is made with 10cm-thick special glass. It is said that the view of seascape from the inside would captivate the audience so much that it would be great for stress relief and relaxation.

£ Guest House No. 72 in Ham-heung is located at the seashore. It has a great view. Beautiful beaches and excellent landscape. Mr. Fugimoto recollected that he used to ride a jet ski many times.

The building is divided into Kim Jong-il floors, Kim Kyong-hee floors,and Kim Jong-nam floors. Two floors for each person(the testimony of Lee Han-young, Kim Jong-il's nephew.) After Kim Jong-nam fell out of favor and Kim Kyong-hee was estranged due to her husband(note: he was purged,) some floors may be put into different use now.

The villa is divided into 1st, 2nd, and 3rd building. Among them, 2nd is a 3-storied building where guards are on stand-by for 24 hours. There is a two-lane road inside the 4.5km-long underground tunnel which leads to the command headquarter of Eastern Fleet. There is a 5-storied building, where employees from 8th Section of Financial and Accounting Dept. and in its basement, there are supplies for events, refrigerator storage, and general storage(the testimony of Lee Young-gook, a former Kim Jong-il's bodyguard.)

Han Young-jin(born in Pyongyang, defected in 2002(, The Daily NK reporter))

/end my translation

[TigerLikesRooster]

I think that this article is built on Fugimoto Kenji's book, "Kim Jong-il's Chef" and add further details by interviewing N. Korean defectors in S. Korea, who have intimate knowledge of Kim Jong-il or facilities mentioned here.

All this obscene opulence, while people are starving to death.

[TigerLikesRooster]

Ping!

[Rebelbase]

There's a very strong Western influence in the architecture of almost every one of those buildings.

[ken21]

you'd think the united nations and especially the euros with all of their "higher" ethics would be interested in this mass starvation.

[TigerLikesRooster]

Re #3

Of course, he likes fancy and exotic life.

[Rebelbase]

Reminds me of Lake Lure, NC

[joesnuffy]

Wonder what the 'poor' communists are living in...

Yes life is rough for a dictator for life...king of the proletariat...ruling over another 'worker's paradise'

Hopefully our 'spiky' nosed rocket assisted nuclear tipped
bunker busters will find his trying to hide underground


amusing...

[NCC-1701]

Not bad digs for the dictator of the food/medicine/resourse/cash-strapped DPRK!

[Rakkasan1]

Camp Greaves DMZ ping. he's so ronery.

[martin_fierro]

It's goooood to be king.

(&#51076;&#44552; &#51060;&#45716;&#44163;&#51008; &#51339;&#45796;) <-- that looked better in Babelfish

[jriemer]

What's with dictators and their obsession with owning multiple villas / palaces?

[TigerLikesRooster]

Re #6

An interesting time to serve at DMZ. Be safe.

[AmericanInTokyo]

Updating TPC's, various coordinates, longitude, latitude, elevation, slope rate, terrain quality, soil analysis, etc. for the amazing, upcoming North Korean debut of Uncle Buster's Traveling Wonders Show of Wonders.

Kaboom!

:-)

Seriously, thanks again! FR absolutely ROCKS when it comes to "North Korean" threads... and you are a big reason for it, what with your constant vigilence, and translating of stuff from Korean to English so we can all enjoy and discuss.

[TigerLikesRooster]

Re #11

For both ego and safety. It is as old as human history.

[riri]

There's a very strong Western influence in the architecture

And all circa 1970...

[Rakkasan1]

it's always been interesting. not there now but was in
88-89.
seen the lunacy 1st hand. it's certainly like the twilight zone .

[TigerLikesRooster]

Re #13

No problem! There are always more articles than I can handle. I just post one when I have some time and feel like it. And I watch you guys join in and get great discussion going on, punctuated by great insights and experiences.

[nuconvert]

"All this obscene opulence, while people are starving to death"

I can't think of a dictator who didn't live in "obscene opulence" while his people suffered.
I'd like to see the insides of these places.

[ErnBatavia]

Bad Feng Shui...

[TigerLikesRooster]

Re #19

Maybe that is why the resident, Kim's Japanese chef, escaped back to Japan for good.:) Kim now needs a Feng-sui master?