Ryongsong Residence

Ryongsong Residence
Chosŏn'gŭl 룡성 관저
Hancha 龍城官邸
Revised Romanization Ryongseong Gwanjeo
McCune–Reischauer Ryongsŏng Kwanjŏ
Ryongsong
Location of Ryongsong Residence in North Korea

Ryongsong Residence[1] (also called Residence No. 55, Chosŏn'gŭl: 55호 관저,[2] and known by locals as Central Luxury Mansion, Chosŏn'gŭl: 주요 고급 저택) is a presidential palace in North Korea and the main residence of leader Kim Jong-un.[3]

Location

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-kuk, there are at least eight North Korean leaders' residences outside Pyongyang.[6]

Description

The compound was constructed by a 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 Sung-taek.[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 underground 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

See also

References

  1. ↑ ‘김정일 저택’ 평양 룡성구역 관저 가능성. DongA Ilbo (in Korean). August 12, 2009. Retrieved December 12, 2012.
  2. 1 2 3 Windrem, Robert (June 18, 2010). "Looking down on Kim Jong Il". MSNBC. Retrieved December 12, 2012.
  3. 1 2 "Kim Jong-il's 'Mt. Ryongnam Range' is succeeded by Kim Jong-un's 'Mt. Ami Range'". Leonid Petrov’s Korea Vision. Retrieved December 12, 2012.
  4. ↑ "'Kim Jong-il's House' Spotted on Google Earth". The Chosun Ilbo. August 13, 2009. Retrieved December 12, 2012.
  5. ↑ "Elite Areas". North Korean Economy Watch. Retrieved December 12, 2012.
  6. ↑ Macintyre, Donald (February 18, 2002). "The Supremo in His Labyrinth". Time Magazine. Retrieved December 12, 2012.
  7. 1 2 3 "DPRK Leadership Compound (Residence 22)". Wikimapia. Retrieved December 12, 2012.
  8. 1 2 Han, Young Jin (March 15, 2005). "Kim Jong Il, Where He Sleeps and Where He Works". DailyNK. Retrieved December 12, 2012.
  9. ↑ Krauel, Torsten (November 28, 2010). "Kim Jong-ils Höhlenstaat Nordkorea". Die Welt (in German). Retrieved December 12, 2012.
  10. ↑ Lipes, Joshua (August 17, 2009). "Kim's Palaces, via Google Earth". Radio Free Asia. Retrieved December 12, 2012.
  11. ↑ Prynne, Miranda (June 21, 2009). "North Korea uncovered: Palaces, labour camps and mass graves". The Independent. Retrieved December 12, 2012.
  12. ↑ Brown, Adrian (August 9, 2009). "Satellites uncover North Korea". BBC News. Retrieved December 12, 2012.
  13. ↑ "Kim Jong-il's sitting room discovered by Google earth". People’s Daily. August 13, 2009. Retrieved December 12, 2012.
  14. ↑ Doyle, Leonard (May 31, 2009). "Leaders live in luxury while North Koreans starve to pay for nuclear bomb". The Telegraph. Retrieved December 12, 2012.

Coordinates: 39°06′59″N 125°48′21″E / 39.116377°N 125.805817°E / 39.116377; 125.805817

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