South Korean secret service: Kim Jong Un weighs over 140 kilograms

Kim Jong Un's health is of political interest in South Korea. The country's secret service is keeping an eye on the habits of North Korea's ruler - and is now making an assessment of his strong preponderance.

Kim's "health condition is classified as extremely obese, his weight is over 140 kilograms," said MP Youn Kun Young on Wednesday, citing intelligence in Seoul. However, since he is being closely monitored by a team of doctors, it can be assumed that the 42-year-old does not have any serious health problems.

Kim, a chain smoker, has a “high risk of cardiovascular disease,” said Youn. However, he did not show any problems with physical activity, such as climbing stairs.

The North Korean leader's health is being watched with great international interest. Should Kim die suddenly, this would raise questions about his successor and have serious consequences for the stability of the internationally isolated state.

There had already been speculation about the health of the North Korean head of state in 2020 when Kim stayed away from a memorial service in honor of his late grandfather and disappeared from public view for around 20 days. According to rumors, he had undergone an operation and was seriously ill afterwards.

Kim's father, Kim Jong Il, and his grandfather, Kim Il Sung, were also both overweight and heavy smokers. Both died of heart attacks.

The UN classifies food shortages as a humanitarian problem

In North Korea, obesity is predominantly a problem among a small, wealthy upper class. For the general population, however, it is an absolute exception. Nuclear-armed North Korea is subject to international sanctions because of its weapons programs. The state has long been struggling with an economic crisis and food shortages. Famines occur again and again. Large parts of the population do not have reliable access to sufficient or varied food. The UN special rapporteur on human rights in North Korea, Elizabeth Salmon, classified the food shortage in the country as a major humanitarian problem in a report in February.

The head chef at the Hotel Metropole in Hanoi, Paul Smart, who worked with Kim's personal chefs during the North Korea-US summit in 2019, said at the time that the North Korean leader had a penchant for bloody meat and luxurious food. »He likes caviar, lobster, really luxurious products. Foie gras, he really loves to feast,” Smart said, citing Kim’s chefs.