Mirim Riding Club Opened

VMar Choe Ryong Hae, Director of the KPA General Political Department, speaks at a ceremony opening the Mirim Riding Club in east Pyongyang on 25 October 2013 (Photo: KCNA screen grab).

The Mirim Riding Club in east Pyongyang (formerly known as the Equestrian Company of Korean People’s Army [KPA] Unit #534) was formally opened at a ceremony on 25 October (Friday).  Attending the ceremony were Pak Pong Ju (DPRK Premier), VMar Choe Ryong Hae (Director of the KPA General Political Department), Kim Ki Nam (Korean Workers’ Party [KWP] Secretary), Mun Kyong Dok (Chief Secretary of the Pyongyang KWP Committee), “commanding officers of the units which took part in the construction, officials of ministries and national institutions, soldier-builders, people from all walks of life, youth and students, the chief of the Pyongyang mission of the Anti-Imperialist National Democratic Front and overseas Koreans” along with “diplomatic envoys of foreign countries, representatives of international bodies, military attaches and their spouses, staff members of foreign embassies here and other foreign guests.”

1. Ceremony opening the Mirim Riding Club on 25 October 2013; 2. A ceremonial tape is cut to open the equestrian club; 3. Foreign diplomats and NGO representatives attend the ceremony (Photos: KCNA).

VMar Choe Ryong Hae delivered a speech at the ceremony in which he said that ” that the club is a product of the energetic leadership provided by Marshal Kim Jong Un with devoted service for the people and the heroic efforts of the service personnel and people of the DPRK who are immensely loyal to the cause of the party.”  Senior officials held a ceremonial tape which was cut by people representing the KPA, workers and the Kim Il Sung Socialist Youth League.  After the tape was cut, the riding club was formally opened and ceremony participants toured the premises.  According to KCNA “the club is a comprehensive and modern riding service center conducive to the physical training of people including school youth and children” and is “equipped with all conditions and environment necessary for riding and education such as riding courses, riding training halls, room for dissemination of riding knowledge, rest house, veterinary hospital and breeding research institute.”

4. Members of the DPRK central leadership tour the equestrian club; 5. Indoor horse arena at Mirim Riding Club (Photos: KCNA).