Ryongsong Residence
| Ryongsong Residence | |
|---|---|
  Ryongsong Residence Location within Pyongyang | |
| Alternative names | Residence No. 55 Central Luxury Mansion |
| General information | |
| Type | Presidential palace |
| Location | Ryongsong District |
| Town or city | Pyongyang |
| Country | North Korea |
| Current tenants | Kim Jong Un Ri Sol-ju |
| Completed | 1983 |
| Design and construction | |
| Main contractor | Korean People's Army |
| Ryongsong Residence | |
| Chosŏn'gŭl | 룡성 관저 |
|---|---|
| Hancha | |
| Revised Romanization | Yongseong Gwanjeo |
| McCune–Reischauer | Ryongsŏng Kwanjŏ |
Ryongsong Residence[1] (Korean: 룡성 관저), also called Residence No. 55 (55호 관저),[2] is the main official residence of North Korean supreme leader Kim Jong Un and first lady Ri Sol-ju.[3]
Location
[edit]The residence is located in Ryongsong District in northern Pyongyang,[4] around 12 km (7.5 mi) northeast of Kim Il Sung Square. The size of the whole leadership complex is around 12 km2 (4.6 sq mi).[5] According to Kim Jong Il's former bodyguard Lee Young Guk, there are at least eight North Korean leaders' residences outside Pyongyang.[6]
Description
[edit]The compound was constructed by the Korean People's Army construction brigade and completed in 1983 under the rule of Kim Il Sung. It was later used by Kim Jong Il, his sister Kim Kyong Hui and his brother-in-law Jang Song Thaek.[7] Since he succeeded his father as leader of North Korea, Kim Jong Un has used Ryongsong Residence as his main residence.[3] The complex has an underground wartime headquarters, protected with walls with iron rods and concrete covered with lead in case of a nuclear war.[8] There are numerous military units to protect the headquarters stationed around the complex in possession of mass scale conventional weapons.[7] The area is surrounded by an electric fence, mine fields and many security checkpoints.[9] The headquarters is connected with Changgyong Residence (Residence No. 26) and other residences with tunnels.[8] A private underground train station is also inside the residence compound.[10] Besides large houses[11] and well-tended gardens[12] there are man-made lakes and various recreational facilities. Witnesses have reported luxurious interiors with ornate furnishings, deep plush carpets and fancy chandeliers.[2]
Facilities
[edit]Facilities of the residence are as follows:
- Banquet halls at the lakefront[7]
- Swimming pool 15 m (49 ft) wide and 50 m (160 ft) long[13] with a giant waterslide[14]
- Running track and athletic field[2]
- Spa and sauna
- Horse stables and riding area
- Shooting range
- Horse racing track
See also
[edit]
- North Korean leader's residences
- Official residence
- Kangdong Residence
- Sinuiju North Korean Leader's Residence
- North Korea Uncovered
References
[edit]- ^ '김정일 저택' 평양 룡성구역 관저 가능성. The Dong-A Ilbo (in Korean). August 12, 2009. Archived from the original on January 21, 2013. Retrieved December 12, 2012.
- ^ a b c Windrem, Robert (June 18, 2010). "Looking down on Kim Jong Il". MSNBC. Archived from the original on October 26, 2006. Retrieved December 12, 2012.)
- ^ a b "Kim Jong-il's 'Mt. Ryongnam Range' is succeeded by Kim Jong-un's 'Mt. Ami Range'". Leonid Petrov's Korea Vision. 16 February 2011. Retrieved December 12, 2012.
- ^ "'Kim Jong-il's House' Spotted on Google Earth". The Chosun Ilbo. August 13, 2009. Retrieved December 12, 2012.
- ^ "Elite Areas". North Korean Economy Watch. Retrieved December 12, 2012.
- ^ Macintyre, Donald (February 18, 2002). "The Supremo in His Labyrinth". Time Magazine. Archived from the original on June 13, 2010. Retrieved December 12, 2012.
- ^ a b c "DPRK Leadership Compound (Residence 22)". Wikimapia. Retrieved December 12, 2012.[user-generated source]
- ^ a b Han, Young Jin (March 15, 2005). "Kim Jong Il, Where He Sleeps and Where He Works". Daily NK. Archived from the original on May 16, 2013. Retrieved December 12, 2012.
- ^ Krauel, Torsten (November 28, 2010). "Kim Jong-ils Höhlenstaat Nordkorea". Die Welt (in German). Retrieved December 12, 2012.
- ^ Lipes, Joshua (August 17, 2009). "Kim's Palaces, via Google Earth". Radio Free Asia. Retrieved December 12, 2012.
- ^ Prynne, Miranda (June 21, 2009). "North Korea uncovered: Palaces, labour camps and mass graves". The Independent. Retrieved December 12, 2012.
- ^ Brown, Adrian (August 9, 2009). "Satellites uncover North Korea". BBC News. Retrieved December 12, 2012.
- ^ "Kim Jong-il's sitting room discovered by Google earth". People’s Daily. August 13, 2009. Retrieved December 12, 2012.
- ^ Doyle, Leonard (May 31, 2009). "Leaders live in luxury while North Koreans starve to pay for nuclear bomb". The Telegraph. Retrieved December 12, 2012.
External links
[edit]- "The Palaces of Pyongyang on Google Earth". One Free Korea. 12 August 2009. – Detailed satellite pictures of six North Korean leader's residences