Kim’s health continues to be a topic of debate
Speculation surrounding Supreme Leader Kim-Jong Un’s health has been circulating for weeks. The plot has thickened today after images surfaced of the North Korean ruler with a dark spot on the back of his head.
The mark became apparent at the end of last month when Kim attended a military parade. Though this dark spot is sometimes covered with a beige plaster, the mark itself has a bruise-like colouring.
State media had referred to their leader as ’emaciated’ and ‘breaking our people’s hearts,’ in a bid to win sympathy votes for the ruler. Having lost considerable weight, arguably due to the pandemic’s effect on North Korea, western media have reported on the various whispers that are leaking from the walls of the closed country.
A clip of a Pyongyang citizen surfaced that seemed to illustrate just how worried his people are. The man said: “Seeing [Mr Kim] become emaciated like that, we all became so sad.
“Everyone just started to cry.”
The Mail Online reports that Kim has lost somewhere between 22 and 44 pounds.
Last month, the Supreme Leader announced that the country was running out of food. In addition, reports indicate that the prices of everyday goods are increasing to the point ordinary citizens cannot afford them.
Due to immense typhoons last year, enormous food shortages were crippling the countries health. A Seoul based news outlet, NK news, reports that in the nation’s capital, Pyongyang, 1kg of bananas is now for $45. This would mean one banana would cost $6.90. For comparison, in the UK, the average price for 1kg of bananas is 0.79p.
Kim scrambled to cover his back, pointing to the global pandemic as the cause and not his own hubris. But, unfortunately, the people have no choice but to believe him. With little access to international information and state-run media dominating the news cycle, the general public has few options.
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