Yahoo Autos North Korea’s Weird Bulletproof State Train Makes First Trip In Years
Russia’s prolonged invasion of Ukraine has strained its capability to keep its military forces supplied. President Vladimir Putin has been forced to the negotiation table with North Korea, one of the few countries able to produce munitions already used by Russian forces and still have friendly relations with his regime. The upcoming talks between Putin and North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un also mean the world gets to see the reclusive state’s armored train for the first time since 2019.
Kim has traveled from the North Korean capital of Pyongyang to Vladivostok on Russia’s Pacific Coast in his distinctive 90-car-long green train. The BBC estimates that the journey took at least 20 hours. The lengthy trip is primarily due to the train’s top speed of 31 miles per hour. Each of the train’s cars is covered in thick armor and fitted with bulletproof windows to protect against attack. The train is also equipped with weapons and a helicopter. It sounds less like transportation for a world leader and more like a James Bond villain.
Read more
Alabama fans handle loss to Texas in predictably bigoted fashion
Lauren Boebert to Staff at Local 'Beetlejuice' Musical: ‘Do You Know Who I Am?’
Devs React To Unity's Newly Announced Fee For Game Installs: ‘Not To Be Trusted’ [UPDATE]
Kim doesn’t travel to every state visit using the armored train, but it has become a North Korean tradition to do so. Kim Il Sung, the country’s founder and current Kim’s grandfather, began the tradition, and a current train is named in his honor. Kim Jong Il, Kim’s father, compulsively continued the practice until his death in 2011 due to his fear of flying. He infamously took a 10-day trip on the trip to Moscow to visit Putin in 2001.
More from Jalopnik
Amber Heard Spent Two Months Designing Overwatch Mercy Cosplay For Ex Elon Musk
Square Enix Loses Stock Value, Development Process Under Fire
A Popular OTC Decongestant Might Soon Be Pulled From Shelves for Being Useless
Sign up for Jalopnik's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
