Satellite images of luxury yachts reveal Kim Jong Un 's current location

Satellite images of luxury boats neardictator Kim Jong Un's favoured villa inNorth Koreahave revealed his current location.

Recent movements Kimand his entourage near Wonsan provide further indications he has been at the coastal resort, according to experts who monitor the reclusive regime.

Speculation had erupted aboutKim's health and location after hisunprecedented absence from April 15 celebrations to mark the birthday of his late grandfather and North Korea's founder,KimIl Sung.

Add WION as a Preferred Source

NK PRO, a North Korean monitoring website, reported on Tuesday thatcommercial satellite imagery showed boats often used byKimhad made movements in patterns that suggested he or his entourage may be in the Wonsan area.

That followed a report last week by a US-based North Korea monitoring project, 38 North, which reported satellite images showed what was believed to beKim's personal train was parked at a station reserved for his use at the villa in Wonsan.

"Wonsan is the place where the railroad, recreational spots and office facilities are all perfectly equipped, in case of emergency," said Cho Han-bum, of the Korea Institute for NationalUnification in Seoul.

Wonsan has also been the scene of some ofKim's renewed military drills and missile tests, which he resumed amid increasing frustration with a lack of progress in denuclearisation talks with theUnited States and South Korea.

It also holds symbolic power for theKimdynasty as North Korea's founderKimIl Sungfirst landed here with Soviet troops to take over the country.

Earlier, officials in South Korea and theUnited States say it is plausibleKimmay be staying there, possibly to avoid exposure to the new coronavirus, and have expressed scepticism of media reports he had some kind of serious illness.

They caution, however, thatKim's health and location are closely guarded secrets and reliable information is difficult to obtain in North Korea.