SEOUL, South Korea — State media reported a local resident as stating that heartbroken North Koreans have been worried deeply about leader Kim’s ‘Emaciated Looks,’ in a rare recognition of international conjecture over his weight loss.
On Friday, North Korean official television quoted an unnamed male resident wearing a straw hat as stating, “Our people’s hearts grieved the most when we witnessed (Kim’s) gaunt appearance.” “Everyone claims that their tears are naturally welling up in their eyes.”
Outside observers are paying close attention to Kim’s health since the 37-year-old leader has yet to appoint a successor to command North Korea’s growing nuclear arsenal, which is aimed at the United States and its allies if he becomes disabled.
In recent months, Kim has called for greater unity to overcome what he refers to as North Korea’s “worst-ever” crisis, which he attributes to pandemic-related border closures that have severely harmed North Korea’s international trade, as well as persistent US-led sanctions and crop-killing summer storms last year.