Voice 9, International Desk: Today, a North
Korean train, colored in olive green and adorned with a gold stripe, crossed
the border into Russia, carrying the country's leader, Kim Jong Un, to a
meeting with President Vladimir Putin. The train is equipped with crates of
expensive French wine, offering passengers the opportunity to indulge in fresh
lobster and pork barbecue.
However, the train's most crucial aspect is its
security, as it is equipped with attack weapons and a helicopter for escape in
case of emergency. Due to the weight of all the extra equipment, the vehicle
moves at only around 60 kilometers (37 miles) per hour. To safeguard against
potential threats, the North Korean leader's train travels in tandem with two
other trains. One train precedes the main one, carrying the leader to ensure
the safety of the railway tracks, while another carries security agents and
follows closely behind.
Despite its slowness, the train has key
advantages over an aircraft, chiefly offering more flexibility in unforeseen
circumstances, including attacks. Were an aircraft with Kim on it to be
attacked, "survival chances are significantly reduced." Cutting-edge
communication gear and flat-screen TVs are installed to enable the leader to
issue commands and receive briefings. Kim's special train, which is very heavy
due to its armor, travels at around 60 kilometers per hour.
Highlighting the symbolic significance of these
trains, a life-sized replica of one of the carriages is permanently on display
at a mausoleum located on the outskirts of Pyongyang, where the embalmed
remains of Kim Jong Il and his father, Kim Il Sung, are enshrined. Kim, aged
39, has employed his family's armored train for past meetings with leaders such
as Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping, and former US President Donald Trump in
2018 and 2019.
In his first visit to any foreign country in
over four years, Kim reached Russia on Tuesday. The North Korean leader's visit
to Russia occurs amid warnings from the US, urging caution regarding any
potential arms agreement between the two nations.
