There were no major new weapons on display at North Korea’s first military parade since U.S. President Joe Biden aired Thursday, but a new-look Kim has received a lot of attention, who has weighed in on the weight in the past. month.
Wearing a light-colored suit, Kim did not give a speech. But he forgave, smiled and gave a thumbs-up as thousands of swan-stepping paramilitary and public security forces marched for nearly an hour through the central Kim Il Sung Square In Pyongyang, he was looking down at the balcony where the leader was watching as he passed by.
The official Korean Central News Agency reported that Kim was greeted with applause when he posed with parade participants who “hardened their iron will to make national defense capabilities impenetrable”.
Kim – overweight and a smoker – has been the subject of health speculation for years and his public appearances are closely monitored for insight into the autocratic and secretive regime in Pyongyang, especially since heart disease runs in his family. History has been.
In July, a spy agency official informed a South Korean lawmaker that the North Korean leader may have dropped at least 20 kilograms (44 pounds) in the past several months. He looked even thinner in the parade.
At the parade, Kim also appeared paying tribute to her grandfather with a haircut sported by Kim Il Sung nearly 70 years ago.
In June, state media cited a civilian as saying that North Koreans were shedding tears after seeing the dramatically slimmer Kim Jong Un. The 37-year-old leader returned to the public eye after being absent for most of May, sporting a slim figure that raised questions about his health.
Kim is looking to rally support as North Korea faces its worst food shortage in years. He is struggling to build an economy hit by sanctions to punish the country for testing nuclear weapons and missiles that can deliver weapons.
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