The 'super' vehicles in charge of serving Kim Jong Un

It was eventually confirmed to be the plane carrying North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to the coastal city to meet President Xi Jinping.

Kim Jong Un's increasing involvement in international diplomacy is drawing attention from outsiders, especially the way he travels, with each trip using a different means of transport.

Kim Jong Un's visit to China this week marks the first time he has taken an international flight since taking power.

The plane he used to reach China was a Soviet-made long-range Ilyushin-62 (Il-62). North Korean news watchers often refer to it as the Chammae-1, after a local species of hawk.

The plane's fuselage is painted white, highlighting the official name and national flag of North Korea written on both sides. The tail of the plane has a red star inside a red-blue circle. Photos released by the North Korean press show the plane with a modern interior and Kim Jong Un working or holding meetings on board.

Chammae-1 made headlines in February when it carried a high-ranking delegation from Pyongyang to South Korea for the Winter Olympics. According to Yonhap news agency, the plane had the license plate number "PRK-615".

In a documentary broadcast by North Korean state television station KCTV in 2014, the North Korean leader was also seen traveling on a Ukrainian-made Antonov-148 (AN-148) aircraft with the logo of Air Koryo airline.

Mr. Kim's father, the late President Kim Jong Il, and grandfather, the late leader Kim Il Sung, never traveled by plane.

Train

When Kim Jong Un visited Beijing in March this year, he used a "special train" believed to be the same one that carried his father on international missions until his death in December 2011.

Images of the train went viral on social network Sina Weibo at the time, leading to many comparisons with Kim Jong Il's train.

In November 2009, the South Korean daily Chosun Ilbo reported that the armored train carrying Kim Jong Il had 90 cars, including conference rooms, audience rooms and bedrooms equipped with telephones and satellite television.

Kim Jong Un's train also has similar interior features, but the sofas and armchairs appear to be a luxurious coral color.

Mercedes-Benz Cars

During his trip to Beijing, Kim Jong Un is said to have used a private Mercedes-Benz S-Class to travel around the city.

According to the South Korean daily JoongAng Ilbo, the car was loaded onto a train to Beijing. The vehicle was manufactured in 2010 and cost about $1.8 million (2 billion won).

Kim Jong Un's favorite S-Class became the center of attention at the April 27 inter-Korean summit at the Panmunjom truce village when it drove him across the border with bodyguards running around to protect him.

Mystery Cruise

North Korean state media has repeatedly shown Kim Jong Un traveling on boats and submarines, and even riding a cable car. In a photo of him visiting a military fishing station in May 2013, observers spotted a yacht in the background.

There has been no confirmation that the yacht, estimated to cost $7 million, is owned by the North Korean leader.