North Korea builds private runways so plane-loving Kim can land next to his palaces

His father was afraid to fly, but North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has taken to the skies, building a series of small runways long enough to land light, private aircraft next to some of his palaces, satellite imagery shows.

Construction of Kim’s personal landing strips began in 2014 and some were completed as recently as last month, according to satellite imagery identified by Curtis Melvin of the US-Korea Institute at Johns Hopkins University in Washington.

“These runways are located near Kim family compounds – sometimes within the security perimeters – and next to private train stations that were used by Kim Jong Il,” Melvin said.

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The young leader’s father, Kim Jong Il, was famously afraid of flying and travelled everywhere by armoured train – including on official state visits to China and Russia.

But Kim Jong Un has paid much attention to aviation during his three-year rule over the isolated and impoverished country.

State television has shown him piloting planes – including a small Cessna-like single-engined plane manufactured in North Korea – and sitting in the cockpit of a fighter jet.