I am reluctant to awake from pleasant dreams, but I don’t feel regret. Because our dreams come true in practice.
This is what a woman horse rider of Chosan County said after winning a 1 600-metre race of female amateurs at a horse race held in Pyongyang in March in celebration of March 8 International Women’s Day 2022.
She is Kim Ok Mi in her early thirties. Growing in the county that has long been called Chosan as it is rich in trees, Ok Mi liked to play various sports such as running, basketball and volleyball.
It was during her military service that she was attached to horse riding.
Seeing men riding horses, she got interested in riding. So, in her spare time, she would feed a horse carrots and give it a bath to get intimate with it and gradually came to know how to ride.
But, as she began to work as a nurse at the clinic of the Chosan County Sericulture Farm after graduating from the then Kanggye Medical College following her demob, horse riding only remained as her girlhood memory.
“I merely imagined myself riding a horse along the mountain ranges that could be seen through the windows,” she recalled.
One day she heard that the Mirim Riding Club was built in Pyongyang and later she saw on TV ordinary working people having a good time as they rode there.
Now the time was gone when riding was alive only in her memory.
She began to practise riding again along the mountain ranges. And at the news that there would take place a horse race in celebration of March 8 International Women’s Day, she applied to take part in the horse race before anyone else.
“In those days I had sleepless nights worrying that my application might be turned down. But after receiving a letter of approval, I worried that I might fail to be among the winners,” she said.
Many people were quite pleased to know she would participate in the horse race, encouraging her to demonstrate her skills, and her anxiety grew further.
With such feeling she left for Pyongyang. At last she returned home with delight in having won the 1 600-metre race of female amateurs at the horse race by fully displaying her techniques practised in ordinary days.
Her villagers rejoiced at her success, referring to it as another pride of their county, and she said, “But for this land, this social system, my dream would have remained merely a dream forever. Cherish your dreams, and they will surely come true.”
She now works at the Kanggye Riding Club and many people visit her to learn riding.
To them she is wont to say, “Only when you know about the benefit of the socialist system can you know about the true merit of riding.”
More From Pyongyang Times
Russian President Vladimir Putin referred to the foreign policy line of his country in a diplomatic meeting on January 15. He
January 22, 2026
Russian President Vladimir Putin referred to the foreign policy line of his country in a diplomatic meeting on January 15. He
With contagious diseases breaking out one after another across the world, a flu epidemic is rapidly spreading. The World Health
January 22, 2026
With contagious diseases breaking out one after another across the world, a flu epidemic is rapidly spreading. The World Health
Mountain villages in Jagang Province are turning into a fairyland. House-moving in Puji-ri of Songgan County, Ryongmun-ri of
January 22, 2026
Mountain villages in Jagang Province are turning into a fairyland. House-moving in Puji-ri of Songgan County, Ryongmun-ri of
A new catalyst production base has been built at the Namhung Youth Chemical Complex. The catalyst production base is another
January 22, 2026
A new catalyst production base has been built at the Namhung Youth Chemical Complex. The catalyst production base is another
With the implementation of the Regional Development 20x10 Policy of the Workers’ Party of Korea, regional-industry factories are
January 22, 2026
With the implementation of the Regional Development 20x10 Policy of the Workers’ Party of Korea, regional-industry factories are
The Youth Movement Museum marked the tenth anniversary of its founding. The respected fatherly Marshal Kim Jong Un personally
January 22, 2026
The Youth Movement Museum marked the tenth anniversary of its founding. The respected fatherly Marshal Kim Jong Un personally
It has been ten years since the Youth Movement Museum was opened to public to convey the Workers' Party of Korea's idea of
January 22, 2026
It has been ten years since the Youth Movement Museum was opened to public to convey the Workers' Party of Korea's idea of
Dmitri Medvedev, vice-chairman of the Security Council of Russia, posted an article on an SNS on January 12 to deride the US’ atte
January 21, 2026
Dmitri Medvedev, vice-chairman of the Security Council of Russia, posted an article on an SNS on January 12 to deride the US’ atte
Russia decided to deport a diplomat of the British embassy in the country. On January 15, the Russian Foreign Ministry called the
January 21, 2026
Russia decided to deport a diplomat of the British embassy in the country. On January 15, the Russian Foreign Ministry called the
Spectacular scenes of rural development have unfolded at several farms in Kangwon Province. Newly-built public and production
January 21, 2026
Spectacular scenes of rural development have unfolded at several farms in Kangwon Province. Newly-built public and production
The Academy of Forest Science has been built on a modern basis. The academy has all facilities and conditions, including an office
January 21, 2026
The Academy of Forest Science has been built on a modern basis. The academy has all facilities and conditions, including an office
The case of poisoning of Emperor Kojong is recorded as one of the violations of the sovereignty of Korea committed by the Japanese
January 21, 2026
The case of poisoning of Emperor Kojong is recorded as one of the violations of the sovereignty of Korea committed by the Japanese
Over the past five years since the Eighth Congress of the Workers’ Party of Korea, a new era of overall development has been
January 21, 2026
Over the past five years since the Eighth Congress of the Workers’ Party of Korea, a new era of overall development has been
A croaker pedigree farm has been built at the Ongjin West Sea Fish Farm. The pedigree farm has an office building, welfare
January 21, 2026
A croaker pedigree farm has been built at the Ongjin West Sea Fish Farm. The pedigree farm has an office building, welfare
The Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea sent a congratulatory message to the 14th Congress of the Communist Party of
January 21, 2026
The Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea sent a congratulatory message to the 14th Congress of the Communist Party of
The Ryongsong Machine Complex, where a flaming torch was lit to create the Chollima spirit in the new era, has turned into a
January 20, 2026
The Ryongsong Machine Complex, where a flaming torch was lit to create the Chollima spirit in the new era, has turned into a
Comrades,I express gratitude to the workers of Ryongsong, teachers and researchers from Kim Chaek University of Technology and Pyo
January 20, 2026
Comrades,I express gratitude to the workers of Ryongsong, teachers and researchers from Kim Chaek University of Technology and Pyo
The Mexican President said in a press conference on January 13 that her country would maintain a foreign policy based on equality
January 20, 2026
The Mexican President said in a press conference on January 13 that her country would maintain a foreign policy based on equality
The ideal socialist villages indicative of the Korean-style civilization of the countryside sprang up at the Chollisong Farm in
January 20, 2026
The ideal socialist villages indicative of the Korean-style civilization of the countryside sprang up at the Chollisong Farm in
The participants in the celebrations of the 80th founding anniversary of the Socialist Patriotic Youth League toured Pyongyang.
January 20, 2026
The participants in the celebrations of the 80th founding anniversary of the Socialist Patriotic Youth League toured Pyongyang.
More Articles