The Unicorn's Lair in Pyongyang
In 2012, newspapers around the world reported that North Korea had announced the discovery of a unicorn's lair.
What was reported
In November 2012, North Korea's state news agency announced that historians had 'reconfirmed' the lair of a unicorn ridden by King Dongmyeong, the legendary founder of the ancient kingdom of Goguryeo, behind a temple in Pyongyang. A rock in front of it was carved with the words 'Unicorn Lair'.
Newspapers abroad ran headlines saying North Korea claimed unicorns were real, and the story went around the world.
Explanations offered
The creature was a kirin, or qilin, a horse-like beast of East Asian myth, which was translated as 'unicorn'. The site, known as Kiringul, had been linked with the legend for centuries, and the carved rock is thought to date from the Middle Ages. The announcement was about history and national legend, not a living animal.
- When
- Announced in 2012
- Where
- Pyongyang, North Korea
- Witnesses
- North Korean state media
- Status
- Explained
Famous cases are real, widely reported events. Each file sets out what witnesses said and the explanations that have been offered, without taking a side.