North Korean authorities seeking to import medical care for Kim's obesity-related ailments: Seoul
North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un's bouts with high blood pressure and diabetes are leading officials to seek treatments from abroad, South Korean authorities reported Monday.
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The South Korean spy agency informed lawmakers on Monday that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has put on weight again and appears to be suffering from obesity-related health issues like diabetes and high blood pressure. His officials are searching overseas for new medications to cure these conditions.
Kim, 40, has a family history of cardiac issues and is well-known for her frequent drinking and smoking habits. Prior to his 2011 succession to power, his grandpa and father, who controlled North Korea, both passed away from heart problems.
Some observers said Kim, who is about 5 feet, 8 inches tall and previously weighed 308 pounds, appeared to have lost a large amount of weight in 2021, likely from changing his diet. But recent state media footage show he has regained the weight.
On Monday, the National Intelligence Service, South Korea’s main spy agency, told lawmakers in a closed-door briefing that Kim is estimated to weigh about 308 pounds again and belongs to a high-risk group for heart disease, according to Lee Seong Kweun, one of the lawmakers.
Lee said the NIS told lawmakers that Kim has shown symptoms of high blood pressure and diabetes since his early 30s. Another lawmaker, Park Sunwon, said the NIS believes Kim’s obesity is linked to his drinking, smoking and stress.
Lee and Park quoted the NIS as saying it obtained intelligence that North Korean officials have been trying to get new medicines abroad for Kim's suspected high blood pressure and diabetes.
North Korea is one of the most secretive countries in the world, and there is virtually no way for outsiders to know Kim's exact health conditions. The NIS also has a spotty record in confirming developments in North Korea.
Kim's health is the focus of keen attention outside North Korea since he hasn't formally anointed a successor who would take charge of the country's advancing nuclear arsenal targeting the United States and its allies if he was incapacitated.
The NIS in its Monday briefing also maintained its assessment that Kim's preteen daughter, reportedly named Kim Ju Ae, is likely bolstering her status as her father's heir apparent. But the NIS said it cannot rule out the possibility that she could be replaced by one of her siblings because she hasn't been officially designated as her father's successor.
The fact that Kim Ju Ae, who is around ten years old, has been accompanying her father to prominent public occasions since late 2022 has sparked speculation about her. She was referred to as Kim Jong-un's "most beloved" or "respected" kid by state media, which also published images and videos showing her strong relationship with her father and ascent to political prominence.
At least 60% of Kim Ju Ae's public engagements, according to the NIS, have featured her going to military functions with her father.
