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.
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.
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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.'
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.
This article has been adapted from its original source.
