North Korean state media released these photos of Kim Jong Un riding a white horse on a snow-covered Mount Paektu. It’s the highest mountain in North Korea and has a mythical quality in the culture there. Since this is a sacred place, there is speculation that this horsing around is a symbolic gesture . Yahoo writes:
Accompanying officials were left convinced that “there will be a great operation to strike the world with wonder again and make a step forward in the Korean revolution,” the agency said.
Analysts said the hike may signal a new policy direction for the nuclear-armed North.
“In the past, Kim has climbed Mount Paektu ahead of major political decisions,” said Shin Beom-chul, an analyst at the Asan Institute of Policy Studies.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has taken a scenic — and politically significant — ride on a white horse on a snowy mountain that's considered sacred to many Koreans. The image reminds many of Russian President Vladimir Putin, who also likes to be photographed on horseback. pic.twitter.com/ahhAjorcg7
— Will Ripley (@willripleyCNN) October 16, 2019
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