One diplomatic source in Singapore said, “Tension was very high in North Korea, hence the secrecy.” Kim’s own aging Soviet-era aircraft carrying Kim’s sister Yo-jong and other officials followed later.

First to arrive in Singapore was an IL-76 transport plane carrying food and other essentials for Kim as well as his bullet-proof limousine and a portable toilet that will deny determined sewer divers insights into to the supreme leader’s stools.