North Korea's Kim Jong-un Faces 'Yo-Yo' Weight Rumors Amid Recent Plump Appearance... Due to COVID-19 Stress?

(Photo from left) October 10, 2020, the 75th anniversary parade celebrating the founding of the Workers' Party of Korea; December 28, 2021, the Party Plenary Meeting; May 12, 2022, the Party Political Bureau Consultative Meeting, showing Kim Jong-un, Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of North Korea. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Sumi] Kim Jong-un, Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of North Korea, who once succeeded in dieting, appears to be experiencing a yo-yo effect recently.

According to Yonhap News on the 29th, Kim's appearance at the Party Political Bureau meeting held on the 12th to give COVID-19 prevention instructions was noticeably different compared to December of last year.

At the Party Plenary Meeting on December 28 last year, Chairman Kim had a somewhat slimmer chin. There was also some room around the collar of his shirt. In the documentary "The Great Victory Year 2021" released by Korean Central Television on February 1, a leaner Kim was shown galloping on a white horse, leading to analysis that he might be managing his weight through horseback riding.

However, at the meeting held about five months later, although he wore the same white tailored shirt, the neck area was tight again and his face appeared fuller.

Experts attribute Kim's weight changes to the impact of North Korea's COVID-19 situation. Since the end of April, as suspected COVID cases surged in North Korea and the country faced a crisis, stress and other factors caused his weight to return to its previous state.

So far, the weight of North Korea's supreme leader has been considered an important indicator of health status, closely monitored by intelligence agencies in South Korea, the United States, Japan, and others.

Kim's weight was about 90 kg when he first took power in 2012, reportedly increasing to 120 kg in 2014 and 130 kg in 2016. This was identified through analysis by the National Intelligence Service in 2016 using various scientific methods such as AI, facial volume, ultra-high-resolution video analysis, and weight tracking models. Later, at the National Assembly audit in October 2020, it was reported that Kim's weight had increased to 140 kg in 2019 but he had lost about 20 kg since then.