"If You're Next to Me, I Can Hear Every Breathless Sound"... A Defected Diplomat Recalls Kim Jong-un

Former Counselor Ri Ilgyu Appears on Channel A Broadcast
Recalls Impressions of Meeting Kim Jong-un
"His Face Was Red Like Someone Who Had Been Drinking"

A North Korean defector diplomat appeared on a broadcast and shared his impressions of meeting Kim Jong-un, the Chairman of the State Affairs Commission. Ri Il-gyu, former political counselor at the North Korean embassy in Cuba, said on Channel A's "Now Going to Meet" on the 17th, "I thought, 'Why is he so red, like someone who has been drinking?'" and added, "When you are next to him, you also get out of breath. You can hear all kinds of colorful sounds."

Former North Korean Embassy Political Counselor in Cuba, Ri Il-gyu, Defector. Photo by Yonhap News

Ri, who was in charge of the event when Miguel D?az-Canel, the head of state of Cuba, visited North Korea in November 2018, is known to have met Kim Jong-un for the first time then. Recalling the situation, he said, "I met (Kim Jong-un) without preparation. If I had waited in the VIP lounge, I might have been mentally prepared, but Kim Yo-jong suddenly requested a runway inspection. After checking the route and returning, Kim Jong-un was already there," adding, "I wished Kim Jong-un wouldn't speak to me."

However, it is reported that Kim Jong-un was the first to speak to Ri at the scene, saying, "Hey, what time does the plane arrive?" Ri described Kim Jong-un's actual appearance as "smaller than on TV," explaining, "On TV, he looks very big and bulky, but in reality, he is somewhat small. His face is very red. That is a very distinctive feature." He also said, "His hands are very plump. Because there is a lot of flesh on his hands, when he stretches his fingers out, they look bent," and added, "When you are next to him, you also get out of breath. I clearly felt that 'he is not a healthy person.'"

Ri, who had a bright future to the extent of receiving the 'Kim Jong-un Commendation,' defected in November 2023. He has made several revelations about North Korea, including providing the government with 12 diplomatic cables he secured during his time as a North Korean diplomat. In a past interview, he explained his reason for defecting, saying, "As a diplomat, I felt unfair because there was no proper compensation for labor," and "I thought I could no longer 'serve' like this."