Will Ripley CNN: Kim Jong Un's train outside of home (he usually flies)

[Dennis Donovan]

Link to tweet

Joyce Karam ✔@Joyce_Karam

BREAKING : Satellite Images show #KimJongUn ‘s train outside his house compound in Wonsan.

CNN points out he usually travels by plane to area. But this is North Korea, nothing is confirmed until it’s official:

Embedded video

6:13 PM - Apr 25, 2020

[soryang]

1. This was reported on S.Korea's Channel A news broadcast April 23

The train was observed there, and additionally it was reported again on Donga.com (Donga media a major media corporation in S.Korea) on April 24. But their reports went beyond this and said intelligence analysis of technical sources revealed Kim Jong Un to be there and walking without assistance.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/117813593

[LeftInTX]

2. English version of article from South Korea referenced by soryang

It has been reported that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un who has recently become subject to rumors about his health moved to Wonsan to avoid COVID-19. The U.S. authorities captured Kim walking on his own.

“It has been identified that Kim Jong Un had been staying in Wonsan during the entire last week,” said a U.S. government official. “He was seen to be walking on his own between April 15 and 20.” It has been reported that the movements of Kim’s cars and close associates were also witnessed and Kim was walking on his own without help from others or being in a wheelchair. The U.S. authorities seem to have identified such information based on the analysis of radars and images captured by reconnaissance planes.

“As some of Kim’s aids and high-ranking officials have contracted COVID-19, Kim seems to have left Pyongyang, which has a high population density, as a preventive measure,” said the official regarding the reasons why the North Korean leader has not made a public appearance since April 11.

In addition, the U.S. government is also weighing the possibility that Kim received medical procedures in his Wonsan residence, which is equipped with medical facilities. “We are trying to figure out the specific conditions of the North Korean leader,” said the official. Meanwhile, multiple sources for North Korea said that they heard some medical procedures were done but it is unlikely that Kim is in a critical condition.

http://www.donga.com/en/home/article/all/20200425/2047198/1/Kim-Jong-Un-seen-to-be-walking-around-in-Wonsan-says-U-S-official

[soryang]

4. thanks for the follow up LeftInTX

I didn't think to go back and look for the English translation later. The delay usually runs 36 to 48 hours.

I see 38North did a little follow up of their own.

https://www.38north.org/2020/04/wonsancompound042520/

[dalton99a]

5. If our surveillance spotted him, then he ain't dead

[OnlinePoker]

3. Here's my post from this story below about why the train might be there

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100213348229#post1

[soryang]

6. Here's another Ripley CNN report from twitter

Link to tweet

The one thing apparently not addressed is that an intel assessment from the imagery says it was Kim. Obviously people who make those determinations are going to be concerned about the use of a body double. Also the report from Donga Ilbo says Kim Jong Un was observed moving without a wheelchair or other assistance, so that would reflect on his condition.

So I thought about this recent gaff by Trump:

What we can learn from the spy satellite image Trump tweeted
August 31, 2019 Quartz

By Tim Fernholz

High-quality US satellite imagery is rarely released publicly; knowing how well these satellites can see could make it easier for adversaries to hide sensitive activities. There is also value in strategic uncertainty about just how well American spies can see into other countries’ backyards.

“The significance is demonstrating just how good US overhead intelligence is,” says Brian Weeden, a space surveillance expert at the Secure World Foundation. “A lot of us on the outside had our suspicions, but in many ways this goes well beyond what most had assumed. I was surprised at the clarity and detail. We now have a better idea of what people say when they talk about ‘exquisite’ intelligence sources.”

Go to the link to see the resolution on the image:

https://qz.com/1699833/what-we-can-learn-from-the-spy-satellite-image-trump-tweeted/

[Totally Tunsie]

7. He's also traveled significantly by train in the past:

In August 2011, Kim Jong-il visited Ulan-Ude, Russia, roughly 4,500 kilometres (2,800 mi) by train from Pyongyang. ... In February 2019, Kim travelled by train to the Hanoi Summit, where he met with US President Donald Trump for talks about denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and lifting sanctions against North Korea.

North Korean leaders' trains - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org › wiki › North_Korean_leaders'_trains