SEOUL (Reuters) – Everyone in North Korea is saddened by what appears to be the weight loss of leader Kim Jong Un, according to tightly controlled state media in North Korea.
The rare public comment about Kim’s health comes after foreign analysts noted in early June that the autocratic leader, who is said to be 37, appears to have lost a notable amount of weight.
“When we see the esteemed Secretary-General (Kim Jong Un) looking gaunt, it breaks the hearts of our people,” the man said in an interview broadcast by state broadcaster KRT on Friday.
“Everyone says they shed tears,” he said.
In the clip, which Reuters could not independently verify, Pyongyang residents on the street see a large screen showing a concert attended by Kim and party officials after a general meeting of the Workers’ Party of Korea (WPK).
The broadcast did not provide any details about the reason for the weight loss.
When Kim returned to state media in June after not appearing in public for nearly a month, analysts at NK News, a Seoul-based website that monitors North Korea, noted that his watch was even tighter than before. What seemed to be insomnia. wrist.
Given Kim’s firm grip on power in North Korea – and the uncertainty about any plans for a successor – international media, spy agencies and specialists are closely monitoring his health.
Early last year, speculation about Kim’s health exploded after he missed the birthday of state founder Kim Il Sung on April 15, only to resurface in public in early May.
In 2014, state media reported that Kim was experiencing “uncomfortable” after a long period of absence.
(Reporting by Josh Smith; Additional reporting by Meno Park; Editing by Gareth Jones)
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