South Korea's intelligence agency says North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is "extremely obese," weighing over 140 kg (about 310 lb), and is at high risk of cardiovascular disease, lawmaker Youn Kun-young said. The agency reports no current signs of incapacity and notes observed physical activity. Questions about Kim's health date back to a 2020 public absence, while his predecessors also died of heart conditions. The assessment comes amid chronic food shortages in North Korea despite anecdotal reports of the leader's access to luxury foods.
Seoul Intelligence: Kim Jong Un ‘Extremely Obese’ — Over 140 kg, High Heart Risk but No Immediate Incapacity
Seoul's spy agency says North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is 'extremely obese' at 140 kilos (310 pounds) (KCNA)
South Korea's intelligence agency has classified North Korean leader Kim Jong Un as "extremely obese," estimating his weight at more than 140 kilogrammes (about 310 pounds), lawmaker Youn Kun-young said on Wednesday, citing the agency's latest assessment.
Health Assessment: The report places Kim at a high risk of cardiovascular disease due to long-standing obesity and heavy smoking, but it also notes there are currently no clear signs of incapacity. Officials say he has displayed the ability to perform physical tasks, including running up stairs.
"It is assessed that there are no signs of health issues, given the close monitoring by (his) dedicated medical team," Youn quoted the intelligence agency as saying.
Recent and Historical Context: Questions about Kim's health have circulated for years. In 2020 he missed a public commemoration and was absent from view for about 20 days, sparking speculation that he may have undergone serious surgery or experienced a health crisis. His father, Kim Jong Il, and grandfather, Kim Il Sung, were both heavy smokers who struggled with obesity and died of heart-related conditions.
Domestic Conditions and Elite Privileges: The report comes against a backdrop of international sanctions, chronic food shortages and a struggling state-managed economy in North Korea. At the same time, anecdotal accounts from people who interacted with Kim during the 2019 North Korea–US summit suggest he also has access to luxury foods — including caviar, lobster and foie gras — according to Paul Smart, the executive chef at Hanoi's Metropole Hotel, who worked with Kim's personal chefs.
Humanitarian Note: Elizabeth Salmon, the United Nations special rapporteur on human rights in North Korea, has warned that food shortages remain a primary humanitarian concern across the country, a contrast to the elite access to high-end ingredients reported anecdotally.
This assessment of Kim’s health is likely to attract continued international attention because a sudden decline or death could raise urgent questions about succession and stability in the nuclear-armed state.
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