NZ Herald
  • Home
  • Latest news
  • Herald NOW
  • Video
  • New Zealand
  • Sport
  • World
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Podcasts
  • Quizzes
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Viva
  • Weather

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • New Zealand
    • All New Zealand
    • Crime
    • Politics
    • Education
    • Open Justice
    • Scam Update
  • Herald NOW
  • On The Up
  • World
    • All World
    • Australia
    • Asia
    • UK
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Europe
    • Pacific
  • Business
    • All Business
    • MarketsSharesCurrencyCommoditiesStock TakesCrypto
    • Markets with Madison
    • Media Insider
    • Business analysis
    • Personal financeKiwiSaverInterest ratesTaxInvestment
    • EconomyInflationGDPOfficial cash rateEmployment
    • Small business
    • Business reportsMood of the BoardroomProject AucklandSustainable business and financeCapital markets reportAgribusiness reportInfrastructure reportDynamic business
    • Deloitte Top 200 Awards
    • CompaniesAged CareAgribusinessAirlinesBanking and financeConstructionEnergyFreight and logisticsHealthcareManufacturingMedia and MarketingRetailTelecommunicationsTourism
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Editorials
    • Business analysis
    • Premium opinion
    • Letters to the editor
  • Politics
  • Sport
    • All Sport
    • OlympicsParalympics
    • RugbySuper RugbyNPCAll BlacksBlack FernsRugby sevensSchool rugby
    • CricketBlack CapsWhite Ferns
    • Racing
    • NetballSilver Ferns
    • LeagueWarriorsNRL
    • FootballWellington PhoenixAuckland FCAll WhitesFootball FernsEnglish Premier League
    • GolfNZ Open
    • MotorsportFormula 1
    • Boxing
    • UFC
    • BasketballNBABreakersTall BlacksTall Ferns
    • Tennis
    • Cycling
    • Athletics
    • SailingAmerica's CupSailGP
    • Rowing
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Viva - Food, fashion & beauty
    • Society Insider
    • Royals
    • Sex & relationships
    • Food & drinkRecipesRecipe collectionsRestaurant reviewsRestaurant bookings
    • Health & wellbeing
    • Fashion & beauty
    • Pets & animals
    • The Selection - Shop the trendsShop fashionShop beautyShop entertainmentShop giftsShop home & living
    • Milford's Investing Place
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • TV
    • MoviesMovie reviews
    • MusicMusic reviews
    • BooksBook reviews
    • Culture
    • ReviewsBook reviewsMovie reviewsMusic reviewsRestaurant reviews
  • Travel
    • All Travel
    • News
    • New ZealandNorthlandAucklandWellingtonCanterburyOtago / QueenstownNelson-TasmanBest NZ beaches
    • International travelAustraliaPacific IslandsEuropeUKUSAAfricaAsia
    • Rail holidays
    • Cruise holidays
    • Ski holidays
    • Luxury travel
    • Adventure travel
  • Kāhu Māori news
  • Environment
    • All Environment
    • Our Green Future
  • Talanoa Pacific news
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Property Insider
    • Interest rates tracker
    • Residential property listings
    • Commercial property listings
  • Health
  • Technology
    • All Technology
    • AI
    • Social media
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
    • Opinion
    • Audio & podcasts
  • Weather forecasts
    • All Weather forecasts
    • Kaitaia
    • Whangārei
    • Dargaville
    • Auckland
    • Thames
    • Tauranga
    • Hamilton
    • Whakatāne
    • Rotorua
    • Tokoroa
    • Te Kuiti
    • Taumaranui
    • Taupō
    • Gisborne
    • New Plymouth
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Dannevirke
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Levin
    • Paraparaumu
    • Masterton
    • Wellington
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Blenheim
    • Westport
    • Reefton
    • Kaikōura
    • Greymouth
    • Hokitika
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
    • Wānaka
    • Oamaru
    • Queenstown
    • Dunedin
    • Gore
    • Invercargill
  • Meet the journalists
  • Promotions & competitions
  • OneRoof property listings
  • Driven car news

Puzzles & Quizzes

  • Puzzles
    • All Puzzles
    • Sudoku
    • Code Cracker
    • Crosswords
    • Cryptic crossword
    • Wordsearch
  • Quizzes
    • All Quizzes
    • Morning quiz
    • Afternoon quiz
    • Sports quiz

Regions

  • Northland
    • All Northland
    • Far North
    • Kaitaia
    • Kerikeri
    • Kaikohe
    • Bay of Islands
    • Whangarei
    • Dargaville
    • Kaipara
    • Mangawhai
  • Auckland
  • Waikato
    • All Waikato
    • Hamilton
    • Coromandel & Hauraki
    • Matamata & Piako
    • Cambridge
    • Te Awamutu
    • Tokoroa & South Waikato
    • Taupō & Tūrangi
  • Bay of Plenty
    • All Bay of Plenty
    • Katikati
    • Tauranga
    • Mount Maunganui
    • Pāpāmoa
    • Te Puke
    • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Hawke's Bay
    • All Hawke's Bay
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Havelock North
    • Central Hawke's Bay
    • Wairoa
  • Taranaki
    • All Taranaki
    • Stratford
    • New Plymouth
    • Hāwera
  • Manawatū - Whanganui
    • All Manawatū - Whanganui
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Manawatū
    • Tararua
    • Horowhenua
  • Wellington
    • All Wellington
    • Kapiti
    • Wairarapa
    • Upper Hutt
    • Lower Hutt
  • Nelson & Tasman
    • All Nelson & Tasman
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Tasman
  • Marlborough
  • West Coast
  • Canterbury
    • All Canterbury
    • Kaikōura
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
  • Otago
    • All Otago
    • Oamaru
    • Dunedin
    • Balclutha
    • Alexandra
    • Queenstown
    • Wanaka
  • Southland
    • All Southland
    • Invercargill
    • Gore
    • Stewart Island
  • Gisborne

Media

  • Video
    • All Video
    • NZ news video
    • Herald NOW
    • Business news video
    • Politics news video
    • Sport video
    • World news video
    • Lifestyle video
    • Entertainment video
    • Travel video
    • Markets with Madison
    • Kea Kids news
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • The Front Page
    • On the Tiles
    • Ask me Anything
    • The Little Things
  • Cartoons
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / World

North Korea releases bizarre photos of Kim Jong-un riding a horse

By Ally Foster
news.com.au·
16 Oct, 2019 05:09 AM3 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

North Korea releases bizarre photos of Kim Jong-un riding a horse.

North Korea releases bizarre photos of Kim Jong-un riding a horse.

Social media is in a frenzy over photos of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un riding a white horse through a snowy mountain.

The undated photos, which were released by Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), captured Mr Kim riding a horse on Mount Paektu through what the agency claimed was the first snowfall of the year.

In one photo, the North Korean leader smiles as he poses on top of the horse, but in another he appears to be concerned as the animal gallops through the snow, news.com.au reported.

The pictures quickly circulated around social media after being released, with users unsure of what to make of them.

This undated picture shows Kim Jong-un riding a white horse among the first snow at Mount Paektu. Photo / KCNA
This undated picture shows Kim Jong-un riding a white horse among the first snow at Mount Paektu. Photo / KCNA
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
The North Korean leader enjoyed the ride. Photo / KCNA
The North Korean leader enjoyed the ride. Photo / KCNA

"Well these pics of Kim Jong-un scaling Paektu on a white horse are … quite something," managing editor at NK News, Oliver Hotham, tweeted.

As the @nprpolitics would say, I can’t let go of Kim Jong Un riding a white horse. I’m trying to watch the #DemDebate , but I just keep going back to KJU on a white horse. The horse is so beautiful. Kim’s legs are so short. His hair is a different species. There is so much here. pic.twitter.com/UUm4hF88E5

— AmeriCat Lady (@AmeriCatLady) October 16, 2019

"It will be interesting to see which one he selects for his official Christmas card," another Twitter user said.

Another user noted that Mr Kim looked "terrified" in most of the snaps.

One added: "Well we know who is getting some new posters for their bedroom walls at the White House!"

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Is this a deodorant commercial? pic.twitter.com/25hxCPcP35

— amnesiac 🇩🇰 🎸🚴 (@gkkd) October 15, 2019

Other people pointed out similarities between Mr Kim's pictures and those taken of Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2009.

The photos show a shirtless Mr Putin rising a horse during his vacation outside the town of Kyzyl in Southern Siberia.

Many have drawn similarities between the two images of Putin and Kim Jong Un. Photo / News Limited / KCNA
Many have drawn similarities between the two images of Putin and Kim Jong Un. Photo / News Limited / KCNA

Mr Kim was accompanied by senior officials of the Workers' Party of Korea Central Committee.

Mount Paektu is the highest peak on the Korean Peninsula and is described as having a "weighty importance" in North Korea's history.

Discover more

World

Behind the scenes of North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un's bizarre childhood

19 Oct 04:00 PM

The country has long claimed it was the birthplace of Mr Kim's father and former leader, Kim Jong-il.

"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," the report released by KCNA read.

The report described the leader's eyes as being "full of noble glitters" as he looked around on top of the mountain.

Kim often visits the mountain before making big decisions. Photo / KCNA
Kim often visits the mountain before making big decisions. Photo / KCNA

Mr Kim often visits the mountain before making major decisions, such as the 2013 execution of his powerful uncle and his 2018 entrance into diplomacy with Seoul and Washington.

As a result, many have speculated that he may be gearing up to make a big move, possibly revolving around his negotiations with the US.

According to the report, all the officials accompanying him were "convinced with overflowing emotion and joy that there will be a great operation to strike the world with wonder again and make a step forward in the Korean revolution".

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Save

    Share this article

Latest from World

World

Rising tension: Drone strikes kill two in Russia, multiple injuries reported

11 Jul 06:36 AM
World

US State Department to begin layoffs to downsize government

11 Jul 04:40 AM
World

Trump hits Canada with new tariff threat

11 Jul 04:40 AM

From early mornings to easy living

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from World

‘Honour’ murder: Father kills daughter over TikTok account

‘Honour’ murder: Father kills daughter over TikTok account

11 Jul 07:51 AM

The family tried to portray the murder as a suicide in Rawalpindi.

Rising tension: Drone strikes kill two in Russia, multiple injuries reported

Rising tension: Drone strikes kill two in Russia, multiple injuries reported

11 Jul 06:36 AM
US State Department to begin layoffs to downsize government

US State Department to begin layoffs to downsize government

11 Jul 04:40 AM
Trump hits Canada with new tariff threat

Trump hits Canada with new tariff threat

11 Jul 04:40 AM
Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky
sponsored

Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • NZ Herald e-editions
  • Daily puzzles & quizzes
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP