Why the Jong face? North Korean leader Kim Jong Un channels Russia’s Vladimir Putin as he goes for a gallop thought the snow-covered mountains (but he does have a coat)
- North Korean leader rode as snow fell at Mount Paektu, a mountain on border between the country and China
- Kim Jong-Un stopped to smile at the camera and looked in high spirits as he rode through snowy mountain
- He is believed to be a horse lover and in 2016, it was revealed he had spent £132,452 on horses from Russia
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Kim Jong-Un temporarily swapped his luxurious life for a bracing horse ride through a snowy mountain, in stunning photos taken by a North Korean news agency.
The North Korean leader sat astride a magnificent white horse and rode on as snow fell at Mount Paektu, a mountain on the border between the country and China.
It is unclear when the photos were taken, but they were released today and they showed Kim in high spirits during his gallop.
Kim was well dressed for the weather, with a thick coat and warm gloves protecting him from the elements as he rode his horse.
He even stopped to shoot the camera a beaming smile as he stood in front of the incredible snow-capped mountain in a stunning snap.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un rides a horse during snowfall in Mount Paektu in this image released by North Korea’s Korean Central News Agency on October 16
![The North Korean leader looks in high spirits as he rides the animal, smiling for photos while taking a break from his gallop](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/10/16/01/19765542-0-image-a-8_1571184421793.jpg)
The North Korean leader looks in high spirits as he rides the animal, smiling for photos while taking a break from his gallop
![In front of a beautiful, snowy backdrop, Kim looked as if he didn't have a care in the world as he enjoyed his time with his magnificent white horse](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/10/16/01/19765534-0-image-a-9_1571184427805.jpg)
In front of a beautiful, snowy backdrop, Kim looked as if he didn’t have a care in the world as he enjoyed his time with his magnificent white horse
![The stunning photos were released by a North Korean news agency, with the country's leader believed to be a lover of horses](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/10/16/01/19765540-0-image-a-12_1571184432977.jpg)
The stunning photos were released by a North Korean news agency, with the country’s leader believed to be a lover of horses
![The photos evoke memories of Russian president Vladimir Putin, who famously rode a horse shirtless in 2009 in macho display](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/10/16/01/19765550-0-image-a-13_1571184436687.jpg)
The photos evoke memories of Russian president Vladimir Putin, who famously rode a horse shirtless in 2009 in macho display
After his snowy adventure, the North Korean leader was back to business as usual as he discussed construction plans with officials in nearby Samjiyon County.
Kim is believed to be a lover of horses and was previously seen astride a similar animal in 2012 during an inspection of an army base.
In 2016, it was revealed that the North Korean leader had spent £132,452 on horses from Russia.
Today’s photos evoke memories of Russian president Vladimir Putin, who was spotted riding a horse while shirtless in 2009.
The macho image was taken on the leader’s annual hike through the Siberian wilderness and caused a stir around the world.
The photos come after North Korea earlier this month that it would not meet with the United States for more ‘sickening negotiations’ unless it abandons its ‘hostile policy’ against the North, as the two countries offered different takes on their nuclear talks in Sweden.
After their first talks in more than seven months in Stockholm, the chief North Korean nuclear negotiator said the discussions broke down ‘entirely because the US has not discarded its old stance and attitude’ and came to the negotiating table with an ’empty hand.’
![After his jaunt through the snowy Mount Paektu on his white horse, Kim Jong Un was seen locked in conversation with officials in nearby Samjiyon County](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/10/16/02/19765530-7577833-After_his_jaunt_through_the_snowy_Mount_Paektu_on_his_white_hors-a-3_1571188078310.jpg)
After his jaunt through the snowy Mount Paektu on his white horse, Kim Jong Un was seen locked in conversation with officials in nearby Samjiyon County
![North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un provides field guidance to construction sites in Samjiyon County, in this undated picture released by North Korea's Central News Agency](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/10/16/03/19765532-7577833-North_Korea_s_leader_Kim_Jong_Un_provides_field_guidance_to_cons-a-1_1571193914011.jpg)
North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un provides field guidance to construction sites in Samjiyon County, in this undated picture released by North Korea’s Central News Agency
![Today's photos of Kim Jong-Un come after North Korea earlier this month that it would not meet with the United States for more 'sickening negotiations' unless it abandons its 'hostile policy' against the North](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/10/16/02/19765528-7577833-Today_s_photos_of_Kim_Jong_Un_come_after_North_Korea_earlier_thi-a-2_1571188078280.jpg)
Today’s photos of Kim Jong-Un come after North Korea earlier this month that it would not meet with the United States for more ‘sickening negotiations’ unless it abandons its ‘hostile policy’ against the North
![After their first talks in more than seven months in Stockholm, the chief North Korean nuclear negotiator said the discussions broke down 'entirely because the US has not discarded its old stance and attitude'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/10/16/03/19765524-7577833-After_their_first_talks_in_more_than_seven_months_in_Stockholm_t-a-2_1571193914012.jpg)
After their first talks in more than seven months in Stockholm, the chief North Korean nuclear negotiator said the discussions broke down ‘entirely because the US has not discarded its old stance and attitude’
But the US said the two sides had ‘good discussions’ that it intends to build on with more talks in two weeks.
On Sunday night, North Korea’s Foreign Ministry issued a statement accusing the US of trying to mislead the public and ‘spreading a completely ungrounded story that both sides are open to meet’ again.
The statement said the Stockholm talks ‘made us think they have no political will to improve (North Korea)-US relations and may be abusing the bilateral relations for their own partisan interests’ at home.
It said North Korea isn’t willing to hold ‘such sickening negotiations’ as those in Stockholm until the US takes ‘a substantial step to make complete and irreversible withdrawal of the hostile policy toward’ the North.
The statement didn’t say which US policies it was referring to.
But North Korea has previously accused the United States of plotting an invasion of the country and maintained that US-led sanctions against the North are stifling its economy.