Jakarta, CNN Indonesia —
The citizens North Korea claimed to be sad to tears seeing their supreme leader, Kim Jong-un, looks thinner in recent times.
“Seeing the leader look thinner and thinner broke our hearts. Everyone said they had tears in their eyes,” one North Korean told television. KRT, as quoted Reuters on Sunday (27/6).
North Korean television stations rarely broadcast public comments about Kim Jong-un. However, Kim’s weight is the center of international attention.
This condition initially became a concern after a correspondent from NK News, Colin Zwirko, uploaded a video showing KCTV when the leader walked down a corridor to the boardroom in early June.
In the video uploaded on Twitter, Kim looks much thinner. His black safari suit looked loose, unlike usual.
A nuclear analyst from MIT, Vipin Narang, immediately replied to the tweet by writing, “Is this just an effect of the camera angle or has Kim really lost a lot of weight?”
NK Newslantas highlighted Kim’s watch which appears to be tied tighter, indicating the leader’s arms are shrinking. The rest of the watch strap does look longer than before.
During this time, intelligence agencies have always paid attention to Kim’s weight which can be related to his ability to lead North Korea, especially if the leader’s family has a history of heart disease.
“Foreign intelligence agencies want to know if Kim Jong-un is healthy enough to remain in power for a long time,” Zwirko was quoted as saying. The Straits Times.
“What happens behind the scenes if he’s not well enough? How will it affect security in the region, given that North Korea has nuclear weapons.”
According to a report by South Korea’s intelligence agency, Kim’s weight had reached 140 kilograms in November 2020, up 50 kg from when he first took over the leadership in 2011.
Kim’s condition is getting more and more attention after the supreme leader had not appeared in public for 20 days. He did not even attend the birthday anniversary of his grandfather who was the founder of North Korea, Kim Il-sung.
Daily NK reported that Kim underwent heart surgery. When Kim finally made his public appearance, NK News highlighted the stains on the leader’s hands that solidified indications he had surgery.
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