The North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un, has prompted more speculation about his health after recent photographs suggested he had lost weight.
Kim, whose heavy frame has drawn global interest since he became the country’s leader almost a decade ago, looked noticeably trimmer in images released by state media on Saturday, according to South Korea’s Yonhap news agency.
Kim, a heavy smoker whose father, Kim Jong-il, died from a suspected heart attack in December 2011, has struggled with health conditions observers attribute to his weight and lifestyle.
South Korea’s national intelligence service told MPs last year it believed Kim weighed 140kg (22st) and had gained an average of 6-7kg a year since coming to power in late 2011, NK News said.
It was not clear from the website’s report if Kim’s altered appearance was the result of illness or a conscious decision to lose weight.
Source: The Guardian