According to artificial intelligence calculations, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un weighs more than 140 kg, a South Korean lawmaker said in a statement reflecting interest in Kim’s health, Reuters reported, quoted by BTA on Wednesday.
The health of North Korea’s leaders is usually a closely guarded secret, and speculation about the condition of current leader Kim, who is believed to be 39, continues due to his heavy smoking, apparent weight gain and family history of cardiovascular problems.
“During his public appearance on May 16, he looked haggard, with clear dark circles around his eyes, and was estimated to weigh more than 140kg, an artificial intelligence analysis showed,” said Yoo Sang-bum of the Parliamentary Intelligence Committee. to reporters after a national intelligence briefing.
The MP said it is likely that Kim is suffering from serious sleep problems. He cited a South Korean intelligence report that said North Korea was hard at work collecting the latest medical information on treating insomnia for its leader.
North Korea’s tightly controlled media rarely report on Kim’s health, but in March, the Workers’ Party of Korea’s Nodon Sinmun newspaper reported, citing him as saying that the North Korean leader regularly works through the night and sometimes into the wee hours. 5 am, the South Korean news agency Yonhap reported.
Kim is a third generation leader. He came to power after his father, Kim Jong-il, died in 2011 of a heart attack.
South Korean intelligence is looking into the possibility that Kim may have fallen into a “vicious cycle” of heavy alcohol and nicotine addiction and suffering from insomnia given the large amount of foreign cigarettes and snacks being shipped into North Korea, Yoo said.
The briefing came hours after North Korea’s sixth satellite launch failed, with the launch vehicle and payload falling into the sea. Yu said North Korean leader Kim likely watched the launch from the spot.
