North Korea is racing to build three lavish palaces in its capital city of Pyongyang, each the size of two football pitches, amid reports they could be for Vladimir Putin
Luxury palaces being built at super fast speed in North Korea could be for Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump, new reports reveal. Three new sumptuous mansions each occupying 139,930 square feet are reportedly intended for use by the Russian leader and other VIP visitors.
Moreover, North Korea’s head of state Kim Jong Un has ordered the rapid construction inside the Kumsusan State Guesthouse complex in Pyongyang, according to independent NK News.
“Vladimir Putin is considered a likely candidate for the new residence because of the two countries’ increased ties amid the war in Ukraine,” reported Charter97, referring to massive military aid – including troops – sent by Kim to aid Russia.
It headlined its report: “Putin Is Going To Flee To North Korea?” Yet NK News stated: “Top candidates for potential upcoming summits include Russian leader Vladimir Putin and China’s Xi [Jinping], though US President Donald Trump also offered in October to travel to the DPRK [North Korea] — around the time construction on the new mansions started — to discuss sanctions relief.”
The news outlet further noted: “Kim has so far publicly ignored the offer. While Putin is a likely candidate to stay at one of the new mansions given the two countries’ growing relationship over the war against Ukraine, diplomatic protocol suggests their next summit should take place in Moscow.”
Putin visited Pyongyang in June 2024, but Kim’s terror of flying means that summits in Russia usually take place in Vladivostok, close to the North Korean border, easily accessible by train.
Now, new satellite images show the construction of the latest Kim palaces.
Earlier guesthouses at this complex dating to 2019 took just four months to erect, and the same rushed speed is clear this time.
A Maxar high-resolution image taken on December 2 shows multiple floors built for each of the three new mansions plus support buildings.
This is seen as evidence that the project is a “top priority” for Kim. However, no details of an upcoming visit by any foreign leader has been announced.
Trump and Kim Jong Un met three times in the first term of the US president, in Singapore, Hanoi and in the demilitarised zone on the Korean Peninsula.
On this occasion in June 2019, Trump briefly stepped into North Korea.
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