Beware North Korea’s petulance and propaganda

AS THE FIRST snows of winter fell on sacred Mount Paektu, Kim Jong Un knew what he had to do. The dictator threw on his greatcoat, saddled up his white steed and rode up the mountain’s slopes until man and beast were gazing into the caldera lake that glints at the summit, pure as the Korean race.

Holy mountain and white charger have long played a central part in the Kim family’s propaganda. They are stolen straight from the cult that once surrounded Emperor Hirohito of Japan, Korea’s former colonial oppressor. But for the old iconography to be given a showing now is notable. Until recently the most striking image of Mr Kim was against the glimmering skyline of Singapore, where he celebrated an extraordinary coming-out party with President Donald Trump last year. There have also been dramatic handshakes at the demilitarised zone with Moon Jae-in, South Korea’s president, as well as with Mr Trump. Now openness and modernity are out. The chill, Mr Kim has decided, is back. The marshal is protecting his vulnerable people from his lonely guardpost atop Mount Paektu.