North Korea and Russia’s Growing Alliance
In a significant development that underscores the tightening relationship between North Korea and Russia, Kim Jong-un has recently received a new consignment of purebred horses from Russian President Vladimir Putin. Veterinary authorities in Primorsky Krai, a Russian Far East region that shares a rail connection with North Korea, announced that 24 horses were transported across the narrow land border on Sunday.
The shipment details
The shipment, which includes 19 stallions and five mares of the Orlov Trotter breed, was reported by The Times. This breed, favored by Kim Jong-un, was also sent to Pyongyang in 2022. South Korean media have speculated that this latest consignment could be part of payment for North Korean artillery shells supplied to the Russian military for use against Ukraine.
A comprehensive partnership agreement
In June, Putin and Kim signed a “comprehensive partnership agreement” that committed their countries to military cooperation. This historic agreement was signed during Putin’s first visit to North Korea in 24 years. Later that month, Kim Jong-un gifted Putin a pair of Pungsan dogs, a local breed, and in response, Putin sent 447 goats to North Korea in August.
Military and symbolic importance
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, according to The Times.
Kim Jong-Un’s personality cult tied to horses
The value of these horses to Kim Jong-un is largely symbolic, playing 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.
North Korea’s premier equestrian center, the Mirim Horse Riding Club, 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.