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Kim Jong-un: North Korean leader rides horse up sacred mountain | Kim Jong-un: North Korean leader rides horse up sacred mountain |
(about 1 hour later) | |
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has climbed the country's highest mountain on horseback, according to state-run media. | North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has climbed the country's highest mountain on horseback, according to state-run media. |
A series of photos released by KCNA show Mr Kim astride a white horse on a snow-covered Mount Paektu. | A series of photos released by KCNA show Mr Kim astride a white horse on a snow-covered Mount Paektu. |
This is not the first time he has scaled the 2,750-metre peak. | This is not the first time he has scaled the 2,750-metre peak. |
The mountain holds a special place in the country's identity - and is said to be the birthplace of former leader Kim Jong-il, the father of Kim Jong-un. | The mountain holds a special place in the country's identity - and is said to be the birthplace of former leader Kim Jong-il, the father of Kim Jong-un. |
"His march on horseback in Mt Paektu is a great event of weighty importance in the history of the Korean revolution," said a KCNA report released on Wednesday. | "His march on horseback in Mt Paektu is a great event of weighty importance in the history of the Korean revolution," said a KCNA report released on Wednesday. |
"Sitting on the horseback atop Mt Paektu, [he] recollected with deep emotion the road of arduous struggle he covered for the great cause of building the most powerful country, with faith and will as firm as Mt Paektu." | "Sitting on the horseback atop Mt Paektu, [he] recollected with deep emotion the road of arduous struggle he covered for the great cause of building the most powerful country, with faith and will as firm as Mt Paektu." |
In 2017, he visited the mountain a few weeks before his new year's address, where he hinted at a diplomatic thaw with South Korea. | |
"Some South Korean observers noticed that [he] normally goes to Paektu before making some important decisions," Fyodor Tertitskiy, a senior researcher at Seoul's Kookmin University, told specialist news site NK News. | "Some South Korean observers noticed that [he] normally goes to Paektu before making some important decisions," Fyodor Tertitskiy, a senior researcher at Seoul's Kookmin University, told specialist news site NK News. |
"Given that there is no progress in talks with Washington, it looks like he has one to make." | "Given that there is no progress in talks with Washington, it looks like he has one to make." |
Another North Korea specialist said the images of Mr Kim were meant to "project authority". | Another North Korea specialist said the images of Mr Kim were meant to "project authority". |
"This may appear strange or comical to us, but it's supposed to look epic," said Peter Ward. | "This may appear strange or comical to us, but it's supposed to look epic," said Peter Ward. |
Mr Kim has reportedly climbed Mount Paektu at least three times, and made a joint visit to the mountain with South Korean president Moon Jae-in in 2018. | |
KCNA previously released photos of Mr Kim atop the mountain, after apparently climbing it in black leather shoes. | |
Mount Paektu, an active volcano, is said to be the birthplace of Dangun, the founder of the first Korean kingdom more than 4,000 years ago. | |
The mountain is hundreds of kilometres from the capital Pyongyang, and sits right on the border with between North Korea and China. | |
Earlier this month, North Korean officials held talks with US officials in Sweden, the first since US President Donald Trump and Mr Kim met briefly at the inter-Korean border zone in June. | Earlier this month, North Korean officials held talks with US officials in Sweden, the first since US President Donald Trump and Mr Kim met briefly at the inter-Korean border zone in June. |
North Korea's top nuclear envoy Kim Myong Gil said the negotiations had "not fulfilled our expectation and finally broke off". | North Korea's top nuclear envoy Kim Myong Gil said the negotiations had "not fulfilled our expectation and finally broke off". |
However, the US maintained that "good discussions were had". | However, the US maintained that "good discussions were had". |
Before the talks, North Korea fired a new type of ballistic missile, its 11th test this year. | Before the talks, North Korea fired a new type of ballistic missile, its 11th test this year. |