6th September 2023, Mumbai: North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is reportedly considering a trip to Russia for a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. This potential visit has drawn attention to Kim’s mode of travel, as he has previously used both planes and the family’s iconic armored train for international travel.
Kim’s trip to Russia
Kim’s first trip to Russia in 2019 involved a 20-hour train journey aboard a distinctive green-and-yellow armored train, a symbol of his family’s dynastic leadership. However, his mode of travel for this potential visit is generating curiosity, particularly as it would be his first foreign trip since the pandemic began. While Kim has used planes more frequently than his father, he has also relied on the armored train for meetings with leaders such as Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping, and former U.S. President Donald Trump. This resurrected symbol holds historical significance within the Kim dynasty.
Kim’s trip to Russia followed by a visit to China
Kim’s previous trip to Russia took him from Pyongyang, the North Korean capital, along aging railways along the country’s eastern coast, ultimately crossing the border into Russia. For meetings with Xi Jinping and Donald Trump, Kim used both his train and a private Russian-made jet. Kim’s potential trip to Russia could signify a renewed focus on summit-driven diplomacy, possibly followed by a visit to China for discussions with Xi Jinping.
Kim Jong Il passed away during a train journey
Kim’s father, Kim Jong Il, made approximately a dozen trips abroad, primarily to China, and exclusively by train. North Korean state media reported that Kim Jong Il passed away during a train journey in 2011. These trains were known for their lavish accommodations, including cases of expensive French wine and gourmet meals. The trains were also equipped with advanced communication equipment and flat-screen TVs, allowing the leader to give orders and receive briefings.
Kim Jong Un will choose to travel to Russia by train again or opt for air travel?
It remains uncertain whether Kim Jong Un will choose to travel to Russia by train again or opt for air travel, as he has become increasingly comfortable with flying. Kim’s official plane is a modified version of the Soviet-made IL-62, known as “Chammae-1” after North Korea’s national bird, the goshawk. Despite the uncertainty surrounding the mode of travel, there are growing expectations for a meeting between Kim and Putin, as their interests align amid separate confrontations with the United States. However, some analysts are skeptical of a meeting next week at the Eastern Economic Forum, given the leaders’ preference for one-on-one summitry during rare trips abroad.
By Yashika Desai