Kim Jong-Un Gets 24 Purebred Horses From Putin As North Korea Deepens Ties With Russia

Russia has delivered 24 Orlov Trotter horses to North Korea, demonstrating the deepening ties between Kim Jong-un and Vladimir Putin. The horses, part of Kim's personality cult, hold symbolic value.

Kim Jong-un has recently received a new consignment of horses from Russia, further demonstrating the growing bond between the North Korean autocrat and Russian President Vladimir Putin. According to an announcement by veterinary authorities in Primorsky Krai, the Russian Far East region that shares a rail connection with North Korea, a total of 24 horses were transported across the narrow land border on Sunday.

The shipment includes 19 stallions and five mares of the Orlov Trotter breed, Kim Jong-un's preferred type, The Times reported. This breed, often featured in propaganda images of the North Korean leader, was also sent to Pyongyang in 2022. South Korean media have speculated that this latest consignment is part payment for North Korean artillery shells supplied to the Russian military for use against Ukraine.

In June, Putin and Kim signed a "comprehensive partnership agreement" that committed their countries to military cooperation. This came as Putin touched down in Pyongyang in June this year for his first visit to North Korea in 24 years.

Later that month, Kim gifted Putin a pair of pungsan dogs, a local breed. In response, Putin sent 447 goats to North Korea in August.

Despite North Korea's development of nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles, the country continues to invest in traditional military technologies, including a network of equestrian military units. Official trade reports indicate that North Korea spent at least $600,000 on thoroughbred horses imported from Russia between 2020 and 2023, as per The Times.

Kim Jong Un's Personality Cult Tied To Horses

The value of these horses to Kim is largely symbolic. They play a crucial role in the personality cult surrounding him and his family. State media have depicted Kim as a child riding with his father, Kim Jong-il. In 2018, dramatic photographs showed him riding through the snow on North Korea’s sacred mountain, Paektu, with his wife Ri Sol-ju and his sister, Kim Yo-jong.

The South Korean newspaper Chosun Ilbo critically described Kim and his wife as "looking like a pair of tubby elves from Lord of the Rings."

In February, North Korean state media showcased Kim and his young daughter, Ju-ae, believed by some to be his designated heir, riding Orlov Trotters during the military parade marking the 75th anniversary of the Korean People’s Army.

The Mirim Horse Riding Club, North Korea’s premier equestrian centre, features exhibits on Kim's extensive riding history, including 386 documented occasions. The club also displays Kim’s statements on the importance of equestrianism.

“Horses may no longer be used in war, but the war horse is important from the perspective that they display the military’s greatness,” he remarked. “Commanders must ride horses. A person who rides horses will gain a stronger disposition and higher command ability, and it is also related to physical strength,” he added, as per the Times.