Successful Weight Loss Thanks to Horse Riding?… North Korea's Kim Jong-un Shown 'Galloping' on a White Horse

New Documentary Film Released to Showcase 2021 Achievements
Featuring the 'Choe Chukgeun 3-inbang' Galloping on White Horses Together

North Korea's Korean Central TV aired a new documentary film titled "The Year of Great Victory 2021," showcasing Chairman Kim Jong Un's achievements over the past year on the 1st. The broadcast included scenes of Chairman Kim riding a horse. [Korean Central TV screen] [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoon Seul-gi] In a 'documentary film' created last year to showcase the achievements of North Korean State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong-un, footage was revealed of Kim himself riding a white horse at full gallop. In the video, Kim is seen riding the white horse at high speed, which some analysts interpret as an attempt to dispel rumors about his health issues.

On the 1st, Korean Central TV released a new documentary film titled "The Great Victory Year 2021," running about 1 hour and 45 minutes.

North Korea's Korean Central TV aired a new documentary film titled "The Year of Great Victory 2021" on the 1st, showcasing Chairman Kim Jong Un's achievements over the past year, including scenes of him riding a horse. The photo features Chairman Kim, his wife Ri Sol Ju (fourth from the left), Party Organization Secretary Jo Yong Won (first from the left), Party Deputy Department Director Kim Yo Jong (far right), and Party Deputy Department Director Hyon Song Wol (third from the left). [Image source=Yonhap News]

In the video, Chairman Kim is seen holding the reins of the white horse with one hand while galloping rapidly along a forest path. His wife, Ri Sol-ju, and the so-called "closest three aides"?his younger sister Kim Yo-jong, State Affairs Commission member and Party Deputy Director; Jo Yong-won, Party Organization Secretary; and Hyon Song-wol, Party Deputy Director?are also shown riding white horses alongside him.

In North Korea, the white horse symbolizes the "Baekdu bloodline," which traces from Kim Il-sung to Kim Jong-il and Kim Jong-un. In the video, only Kim Jong-un’s primary white horse wears a golden bridle. North Korea regards the white horse as a "battle vehicle of brave and wise commanders" and has used it as a propaganda tool to idolize the Kim family.

Although images of Kim Jong-un riding horses have been released before, including the so-called "Baekdu Mountain military horse march" in 2019, it is considered unusual to show him galloping at full speed. Judging by the surrounding natural environment in the documentary, the footage appears to have been filmed between late spring and early summer of last year.

The documentary is arranged chronologically, and as it progresses toward the latter part, Kim Jong-un appears to have a slimmer overall physique. Based on his demonstrated horseback riding skills, some analysts suggest that horseback riding may have played a significant role in his weight loss. In fact, the National Intelligence Service reported to the National Assembly in October last year that Kim Jong-un’s health is normal and that his weight decreased by about 20 kg from approximately 140 kg in 2019.