After Taking Office, Gained 7kg Annually... Body Size Shrinks
Could Be Due to Health Issues Like Worsening Diabetes and Hypertension
[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] Kim Jong-un, Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of North Korea, recently appeared at a Workers' Party Political Bureau meeting with a noticeably rapid weight loss compared to before, prompting close monitoring by intelligence agencies of South Korea, the United States, and Japan, according to the U.S.-based North Korea specialist media NK News. This is presumed to be because rapid weight loss due to health issues such as diabetes, other complications, and worsening hypertension could raise concerns about succession issues.
On the 9th (local time), NK News reported that photos of Chairman Kim attending the Workers' Party Political Bureau meeting, released by North Korean authorities on the 4th, showed a significant weight loss compared to March and November of last year.
NK News compared photos of Kim Jong-un wearing a wristwatch reported by the North Korean Korean Central News Agency during the meeting he presided over, following photos from November last year and March this year. They noted, "Chairman Kim is wearing the Swiss-made IWC watch on his left wrist, and the watch strap is tightened more in the photo from the 4th than in the photo from November last year. Even in the video of the meeting presided over by Kim, broadcast by North Korean Korean Central TV, his overall body size appears reduced compared to the appearance revealed in April."
NK News stated, "This is a significant change that cannot be seen as simple weight loss," and added, "Intelligence agencies of the three countries?South Korea, the U.S., and Japan?are closely monitoring the situation." Chairman Kim is currently estimated to weigh about 140 kg, and it is known that his weight had been increasing by about 6 to 7 kg annually over his eight years in power.
Considering that Chairman Kim is presumed to have suffered from adult diseases such as diabetes and hypertension, which also run in his family, NK News reported that the rapid weight change could possibly be due to health abnormalities. In the medical field, it is generally known that if diabetes complications or accompanying thyroid toxicosis occur, rapid weight loss is common.
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