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Accompanied by senior North Korean figures, Kim took two
well-publicized rides on the snowy slopes of the sacred Paektu
Mountain in October and December.
State media heralded the jaunts as important displays of
strength in the face of international pressure and the photos of
Kim astride a galloping white steed were seen around the world.
North Korea has a long history of buying pricey horses from
Russia and customs data first reported by Seoul-based NK News
suggests that North Korea may have bolstered its herd in
October.
According to customs data reviewed by Reuters, Russia exported
12 horses worth a total of $75,509 to North Korea last year.
It was the biggest buy since 2015, when North Korea spent
$192,204 on 61 horses from Russia. Altogether, North Korea has
imported at least 138 horses between 2010 and 2019, at a cost of
$584,302, according to the Russian data.
The imagery of Kim astride a white stallion was designed to
instill confidence in North Koreans that they have a man of
strength and destiny holding the reins of power, analysts said.
The horse purchases also came as North Korea is under strict
international sanctions imposed over its nuclear weapons and
ballistic missile programers.
(Reporting by Rinat Sagdiev and Maria Kiselyova in Moscow and
Josh Smith in Seoul; Writing by Josh Smith; Editing by Angus
MacSwan)
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