Ryongsong Residence

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

Ryongsong Residence
Ryongsong Residence
Location within Pyongyang
Alternative namesResidence No. 55
Central Luxury Mansion
General information
TypePresidential palace
LocationRyongsong District
Town or cityPyongyang
CountryNorth Korea
Current tenantsKim Jong-un
Completed1983
Design and construction
Main contractorKorean People's Army
Ryongsong Residence
Chosŏn'gŭl
룡성 관저
Hancha
Revised RomanizationYongseong Gwanjeo
McCune–ReischauerRyongsŏng Kwanjŏ

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-Guk, 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 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
  • 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
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See also

References
  1. ‘김정일 저택’ 평양 룡성구역 관저 가능성. DongA Ilbo (in Korean). August 12, 2009. Archived from the original on January 21, 2013. Retrieved December 12, 2012.
  2. Windrem, Robert (June 18, 2010). "Looking down on Kim Jong Il". MSNBC. Archived from the original on October 26, 2006. Retrieved December 12, 2012.)
  3. "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. "DPRK Leadership Compound (Residence 22)". Wikimapia. Retrieved December 12, 2012.
  8. Han, Young Jin (March 15, 2005). "Kim Jong Il, Where He Sleeps and Where He Works". DailyNK. Archived from the original on May 16, 2013. 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.

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