Secret Specifications of Kim Jong Un's Limousine in Russia: There's a Toilet

Secret Specifications of Kim Jong Un's Limousine in Russia: There's a Toilet

Various sources explain that Kim Jong Un always carries a chamber pot or toilet car in his vehicle wherever he goes. (via REUTERS/KCNA)

The vehicles in Kim Jong Un's security convoy may not be as luxurious and battle-ready as those of most major countries, but the North Korean leader has a feature that perhaps not all presidents have, namely a toilet in a limousine. 

Kim is known to have visited Russia this week using a 90-car train called Taeyangho from Pyongyang. Some of the carriages were used to carry the presidential car itself in the form of a limousine which was thought to have been specially designed to have a toilet in the cabin. 

There are at least two limousines that Kim brought to Russia, namely the Maybach 62 S and the Mercedes-Maybach S600, both of which are believed to have toilets. 

The news about this has actually been known for a long time. In 2015, a source familiar with the personalization of Kim's convoys told South Korean media, Daily NK, that the North Korean leader always brought his own toilet wherever he went. 

"The toilet is not just in Kim Jong Un's train but in any small or medium car carrying him and even in special vehicles designed for mountains or snow," the source said. 

The source also added that when traveling Kim carries a potty in her Mercedes limousine so that if suddenly 'nature calls' she can do so without stopping the motorcade. 

This information was also confirmed by North Korean defector and former member of the country's elite Guard Command, Lee Yun-keol, to The Washington Post in 2019. 

"Instead of using public toilets, the North Korean leader has a private toilet that accompanies him when he travels," Lee said. "The leader's feces contain information about his health status so it should not be left behind," he said again. 

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's presidential car during his visit to Russia. (via REUTERS/SPUTNIK)

Apart from being useful in preventing other countries' intelligence operatives from finding out about Kim's condition from examining his feces, bringing a private toilet is also said to be useful in building his image, which in North Korean culture is considered a god-like figure. 

"There should always be a special private toilet for Suryeong (supreme leader) Kim Jong Un. It is unthinkable in Suryeong-based culture that he should use a public toilet," he explained. 

Kim arrived in Russia on Tuesday (12/9), he has visited various places with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Putin even invited Kim to get into his presidential car, the Aurus Senate. 

Spesifikasi Rahasia Limosin Kim Jong Un di Rusia: Ada Toiletnya

Berbagai sumber menjelaskan Kim Jong Un selalu membawa pispot atau mobil toilet di dalam kendaraannya ke mana pun dia pergi. (via REUTERS/KCNA)

Kendaraan dalam konvoi pengamanan Kim Jong Un mungkin tak semewah dan siap perang seperti kebanyakan negara besar, tetapi pemimpin Korea Utara itu memiliki fitur yang bisa jadi tak dipunyai semua presiden yaitu toilet di dalam limosin.

Kim diketahui berkunjung ke Rusia pada pekan ini menggunakan kereta 90 gerbong bernama Taeyangho dari Pyongyang. Sebagian gerbong itu digunakan untuk membawa mobil kepresidenannya sendiri berupa limosin yang diduga sudah didesain khusus memiliki toilet di kabinnya.

Setidaknya ada dua limosin yang dibawa Kim ke Rusia yaitu Maybach 62 S dan Mercedes-Maybach S600 yang diyakini keduanya punya toilet.

Kabar tentang ini sebenarnya sudah lama diketahui. Pada 2015 lalu seorang sumber yang mengetahui tentang personalisasi konvoi Kim memberi tahu media Korea Selatan, Daily NK, bahwa pemimpin Korea Utara itu selalu membawa toilet sendiri ke mana pun dia pergi.

"Toilet itu bukan cuma di kereta Kim Jong Un tetapi apa pun mobil kecil atau medium yang membawanya dan bahkan di kendaraan spesial yang didesain untuk pegunungan atau salju," kata sumber itu.

Sumber itu juga menambahkan saat bepergian Kim membawa pispot di limosin Mercedesnya jadi jika tiba-tiba ada 'panggilan alam' dia bisa melakukannya tanpa menghentikan iring-iringan.

Informasi ini juga dikonfirmasi oleh pembelot Korea Utara dan mantan anggota elit Komando Garda negara tersebut, Lee Yun-keol, kepada The Washington Post pada 2019.

"Daripada menggunakan toilet umum, pemimpin Korea Utara memiliki toilet pribadi yang selalu menemaninya saat dia bepergian," kata Lee.

"Kotoran pemimpin itu mengandung informasi tentang status kesehatannya sehingga tidak boleh ditinggalkan," ujar dia lagi.

Mobil kepresidenan pemimpin Korea Utara Kim Jong Un saat berkunjung ke Rusia. (via REUTERS/SPUTNIK)

Selain berguna mencegah operasi intelijen negara lain mengetahui tentang kondisi Kim dari meneliti kotorannya, membawa toilet pribadi juga dikatakan berguna buat membangun citranya yang dalam budaya Korea Utara dianggap sebagai sosok seperti dewa.

"Harus selalu ada toilet pribadi khusus untuk Suryeong (pemimpin tertinggi) Kim Jong Un. Tidak terpikirkan dalam budaya berbasis Suryeong bahwa dia harus menggunakan toilet umum," paparnya.

Kim sampai di Rusia pada Selasa (12/9), dia telah mengunjungi berbagai tempat bersama Presiden Rusia Vladimir Putin. Bahkan Putin sempat mengajak Kim masuk ke mobil kepresidenannya, Aurus Senat.