North Korea’s Kim makes second visit to sacred mountain ahead of denuclearization deadline

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un rode a white horse up a snow-covered sacred mountain, the second visit of its kind in less than two months, state media reported Wednesday.

According to The Associated Press, the Korean Central News Agency released several photos showing Kim along with other North Korean officials as they rode up Mount Paektu — the highest peak on the Korean Peninsula.

Kim reportedly said that “we should always live and work in the offensive spirit of Paektu.” 

“The imperialists and class enemies make a more frantic attempt to undermine the ideological, revolutionary and class positions of our party,” he added.

Kim’s trip to the sacred mountain comes as North Korea’s end-of-the-year deadline for the United States to make concessions in a nuclear deal quickly approaches.

Negotiations between Kim and the U.S. have remained gridlocked in recent months, as North Korea is trying to secure relief from sanctions in exchange for steps toward denuclearization.

North Korea’s Foreign Ministry warned earlier this week that it’s entirely up to the U.S. to choose what “Christmas gift” it gets from Pyongyang.

Talks also deteriorated last month after North Korea called the U.S. proposals for negotiations “sickening.”

President Trump on Tuesday revived the “Rocket Man” nickname he has used for Kim while discussing relations with North Korea at a NATO summit.