North Korean officials are reportedly searching in other countries for weight loss drugs to treat leader Kim Jong Un’s obesity, according to a briefing by South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS).
The Associated Press reported that the intelligence agency briefed lawmakers on Monday that Kim, 40, is experiencing symptoms of high blood pressure and diabetes. The agency also estimated Kim to be about 5’8” in height, weighing 308 pounds (around 139 kg).
Kim, who is known to be a heavy drinker and smoker, reportedly lost up to 44 pounds in 2021, but he gained the weight back and more in the last two years. Both Kim’s father Kim Jong Il, and his grandfather, Kim Il Sung, died following heart attacks.