Kim Jong-un's Secret of the 'Baekma'?…12 Imported from Russia Last Year

Imported 12 Horses from Russia Last Year

On October 16 last year, the Korean Central News Agency reported that Kim Jong-un, Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of North Korea, rode a white horse to ascend Baekdu Mountain.

Major foreign media reported on the 17th (local time) that North Korea spent about 90 million won last year purchasing around 10 horses from Russia.

According to Russian customs data, North Korea paid $75,509 in October last year to import 12 purebred Russian horses.

The reason North Korea's horse imports attract attention is due to North Korean State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong-un's Baekdu Mountain white horse ascent at the end of last year. North Korean media revealed that Chairman Kim rode white horses twice, in October and December last year, to climb Baekdu Mountain.

However, the horses Chairman Kim rode appear unrelated to those imported last year. A significant portion of the Russian horses imported by North Korea were breeding stallions. This accounts for over 70% of the total import amount, approximately $58,000 (69 million won).

Artyom Lukin, Deputy Director of the Institute of Oriental Studies at the Far Eastern Federal University in Russia, told the Russian news agency RIA Novosti in an interview, "The horse Chairman Kim rode (last year) is likely an Orlov trotter gifted by Russian President Vladimir Putin to Defense Committee Chairman Kim Jong-il in 2003."

However, the breed imported is the same. The Russian Orlov trotter is well-known for its noble appearance, patience, and docile nature. Deputy Director Lukin estimated, "The horse Chairman Kim rode while climbing Baekdu Mountain was probably also an Orlov trotter," adding, "It is likely a horse introduced long ago and trained."

From 2010 to 2019, North Korea imported 138 horses from Russia, with a total import value of about $584,000 (700 million won).

Meanwhile, North Korea's horse imports occurred amid strong sanctions imposed by the United Nations (UN) Security Council. This suggests illicit trade between North Korea and Russia. Former North Korean diplomat to the UK, Tae Yong-ho, revealed that while serving as a diplomat in the UK, he was ordered by Pyongyang to import horses, but could not bring them in due to sanctions against North Korea.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.