The National Intelligence Service of South Korea has issued a concerning statement asserting that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is suffering from 'extreme obesity' and is a heavy smoker. This information has drawn heightened international attention, as any serious health issues affecting the leader of an isolated, nuclear-armed state could threaten regional stability and trigger a severe succession crisis.
Diagnoses and Family Medical History
According to lawmaker Yoon Kun-young, citing classified South Korean intelligence data, Kim Jong Un's current weight exceeds 140 kilograms (approx. 310 pounds). Although such indicators automatically place him in the highest-risk group for severe cardiovascular diseases, official observers note that he has not yet displayed explicit signs of physical frailty during public appearances.
Nevertheless, the medical background of the Kim family leads experts to fear the worst-case scenario. Both the current leader's father, Kim Jong Il, and his grandfather, Kim Il Sung, suffered from similar weight issues, abused tobacco products, and ultimately died of heart attacks. According to intelligence reports, Kim Jong Un maintains a similar lifestyle and retains a passion for gourmet cuisine, including expensive delicacies, caviar, and rare meats.
The Question of Power Succession
Amid constant speculations regarding the North Korean leader's health, analysts are closely monitoring any shifts in Pyongyang's internal politics. Of particular interest to the expert community is his underage daughter, Ju Ae, who in recent years has increasingly accompanied her father to major state events, including official visits to mausoleums and military parades.
While the girl's public appearances were initially perceived merely as a propaganda tool, South Korean intelligence expressed confidence by April of this year that Kim Jong Un has effectively chosen her as his future successor. Such family-centered political maneuvers are designed to preemptively strengthen the young heiress's position within the rigid nomenclature hierarchy of the secretive totalitarian state.
Contradictory Data
While official Seoul reports emphasize the politician's critical weight and his high-risk category, other sources point out certain inconsistencies in medical assessments. On one hand, Kim Jong Un's medical team closely monitors his condition and reportedly records no critical organ dysfunctions so far. On the other hand, skeptics recall the events of 2020, when the leader's sudden twenty-day disappearance from the public eye sparked widespread rumors of a severe operation and a near-fatal outcome, contrasting sharply with today's assurances regarding his bodily resilience.
