North Korea prominently featured Kim Jong Un on the front page of Rodong Sinmun to mark the sixth anniversary of the Mount Paektu Horseback Ride. This move appears to reinforce the narrative of Kim’s legitimacy and his role in carrying forward his predecessors’ legacies as the country enters its year-end political season.
On Monday, Rodong Sinmun, highlighted the significance of Kim’s Mount Paektu Horseback Ride, which took place in December 2019 when he rode a white horse through a snowstorm on the mountain.
The newspaper described the Paektu revolutionary tradition as the historical foundation of the party and revolution, a vital link between generations, and the invincible force that projects the nation’s dignity and power globally.
Kim’s Mount Paektu ride is widely seen as a pivotal moment in North Korea’s foreign policy, signaling a dramatic shift following the breakdown of U.S.-North Korea denuclearization talks in February 2019. His previous visit to Mount Paektu in November 2013, which preceded the execution of his uncle Jang Song-thaek, suggests these trips carry significant political weight beyond mere local inspections.
In the aftermath, North Korea announced its self-reliance policy in 2020 and, during the Eighth Congress of the Workers’ Party in 2021, committed to strengthening its nuclear capabilities and maintaining its stance against foreign hostility. These decisions laid the groundwork for the country’s current strategy of abandoning denuclearization efforts and solidifying its status as a nuclear power.
Rodong Sinmun’s renewed focus on the Mount Paektu Horseback Ride appears to be linked to the upcoming Ninth Congress of the Workers’ Party, where new five-year plans across various sectors are expected to be unveiled.
The newspaper reported that over 100 organizations visited the Mount Paektu revolutionary historic site in November alone. It emphasized the leader’s directive that all officials, soldiers, and students should be educated in the spirit of Mount Paektu, indicating a nationwide effort to bolster unity through the mountain’s symbolism.
On Page 2, the article underscored Kim’s role in realizing the aspirations of his father, Kim Jong Il, stating that it cannot forget the immortal achievements of the great General Kim Jong Il for its homeland and people, and it is Kim who is bringing the General’s noble wishes to fruition in the land.
Yang Moo-jin, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies, analyzed this reporting as part of the regime’s year-end efforts to strengthen internal cohesion, viewing it as a reflection of the ongoing consolidation of power around Kim.