North Korea's Kim inspired by his favourite wannabe 'dictator' Trump? Satellite images reveal secret makeover of 9 luxury compounds
&imwidth=600&imheight=450&format=webp&quality=medium "North Korea's Kim inspired by his favourite wannabe 'dictator' Trump? Satellite images reveal secret makeover of 9 luxury compounds")
This picture taken on July 3, 2026 and released by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) via KNS on July 5, 2026 shows North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un visiting the construction projects for the regional development policy in Ragwon County of South Hamgyong Province. Photograph: (Combination created using images from AFP)
Fresh satellite images have revealed construction at at least nine of Kim Jong Un's luxury compounds, even as North Korea battles food shortages and economic hardship. Scroll down to see what the dictator is secretly renovating.
North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un appears to have been inspired by US President Donald Trump's long line of renovation projects. Even as North Korea faces shortages and economic hardship, fresh satellite imagery shows construction activity at at least nine of Kim's luxury compounds.
The renovations come as Trump, who once confessed his aspiration to be a dictator for at least one day of his presidency, continues to publicly tout “upgrades” to the White House. The latest project, as per reports, is a fortification of the White House front door. But unlike Trump, who often highlights his renovation plans, Kim has kept the work at his sprawling estates hidden from public view, with no mention in North Korean state media.
What is Kim renovating?
Analysis of satellite images by NK Pro, a research service that tracks developments inside North Korea, shows construction beginning between late May and early June at several of Kim's residences. The projects include a compound in Pyongyang, a private beachfront retreat in Wonsan, a lakeside resort, and an enormous family estate reportedly large enough to include missile launch facilities.
Experts say the timing is no coincidence. Growing economic cooperation with Russia and China has provided the Kim regime with fresh financial resources, allowing the leadership to invest in prestige projects while much of the population continues to face severe hardship.
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Michael Madden, a North Korea leadership expert at the Stimson Center, told the Wall Street Journal that many of the properties hold personal significance for Kim. "These are places where Kim Jong Un grew up," Madden said. "He probably maintained the high taste levels."
A rare glimpse into Kim's luxury lifestyle
Kim is believed to own more than a dozen luxury residences scattered across the country. Satellite imagery over the years has revealed features rarely associated with one of the world's most isolated states, including superyachts, horse racing tracks, Olympic size swimming pools and sprawling private villas.
One of the compounds currently undergoing roof work is Kim's beachfront retreat in Wonsan, where his reported $7 million yacht is usually moored during the summer.
The secrecy surrounding the renovations reflects more than security concerns. Publicly showcasing an extravagant lifestyle would undermine decades of state propaganda portraying Kim as a leader who shares the hardships of ordinary North Koreans. With nearly half the country's population estimated to be malnourished, images of luxury mansions and lavish retreats would stand in stark contrast to the regime's carefully cultivated narrative.
