Every Time Kim Jong Un Visits Paektu Mountain, Something Big Happens, How About This Time?

Visiting Mount Paektu in -22°F North Korea
Closely associated with North Korea’s three Kims
Kim Jong Un always stirs up trouble when he visits

If South Koreans consider Seoraksan and Hallasan as representative mountains, North Koreans consider Geumgangsan and Mount Paektu. Especially, Mount Paektu is so integral to North Korea’s identity that it is inseparable from the country’s history, particularly from the stories of the Kim dynasty. The Kim family

Despite the recent severe cold weather nearing -22°F(-30°C), many people are visiting Mount Paektu. What does Mount Paektu mean to North Koreans? And why does the world pay attention when Kim Jong Un frequently visits Mount Paektu? Let’s discuss this.

84,000 people visit annually
No exceptions for women and children

If you think of the mountains in South Korea, 84,000 people visiting annually doesn’t seem like a big issue. But considering the restricted freedom of movement in North Korea and that most of these visitors are officials from party-related organizations or students, the number is quite significant. They are said to organize Mount Paektu visit groups competitively to accumulate this as an achievement.

Not only adult males but also women and children are inevitably included. Considering that the temperature drops to -32.8°F(-36°C) in winter when they mainly visit Mount Paektu, it can be regarded as excessively harsh. North Korea refers to this as the ‘Mount Paektu Expedition March,’ viewing it as an organized movement aimed at a battle. What could Mount Paektu be to North Korea so that it can even endure such hardships?

Claimed base of Kim Il Sung’s anti-Japanese movement
The house where Kim Jong Il is said to have been born also exists

Mount Paektu is regarded as the base of Kim Il Sung’s anti-Japanese movement in North Korea. Several historical sites related to Kim Il Sung’s anti-Japanese guerrilla movement in the 1930s have already been created throughout Mount Paektu, and visitors must visit all of them as part of a course. Through this, it firmly establishes that the current North Korea continues the revolutionary roots from Mount Paektu.

Also, one of these historical sites, the ‘Secret Camp,’ is considered the birthplace of Kim Il Sung’s son, Kim Jong Il. Therefore, Mount Paektu is further sanctified by North Koreans. Of course, according to Soviet records, Kim Jong Il was born in the Soviet Union’s Yanbian. However, regardless of the truth, Mount Paektu, the origin of the two leaders, would inevitably be regarded as a sanctuary by North Koreans.

Kim Jong Un’s visits for legitimacy
It always stirs up significant issues afterwards

Kim Jong Un has also visited Mount Paektu several times, especially by riding a white horse, a symbol of Kim Il Sung. He declared himself the legitimate successor of the Paektu bloodline directly descended from Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il. Conversely, when his power base is shaken, the most effective countermeasure could be demonstrating his legitimacy derived from this bloodline through a visit to Mount Paektu.

Especially, Kim Jong Un always visited Mount Paektu before initiating radical diplomatic actions or military provocations. It is said that Kim Jong Un even referred to Mount Paektu as the ‘University of Mount Paektu,’ claiming that it always provides him with teachings.