North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un’s health is in critical condition hazard to life, though rumors of a coma have proven unfounded.
Kim Jong-Un’s physical condition indicates that the country’s leaders are highly probably preparing a successor in order to avoid a power vacuum if the North Korean leader dies or is incapable to rule the country for a long time over deteriorating health or hospital stay need.
Bad health might be directly related to his long-term smoking habit. This is implied by the fact that state media highlighted several ongoing projects at the DPRK’s “smoking cessation research center” since the rumors about the critical health condition of the North Korean Supreme Leader have started to go round.
The North Korean Leader is at hereditary risk for cardiovascular disease that might become complicated over smoking, considering his diabetes, as well as hypertension and obesity. Kim Jong Un is five feet, seven inches tall, and weighs about three hundred pounds, so his body mass index (BMI) is 45/46, or “extremely obese”.
Analysis of the videos featuring Kim Jong-Un indicates lameness in both legs, most likely caused by gout. The gout is probably also the cause of hyperuricemia. Atherosclerosis progression on the hyperlipidemia background, high level of cholesterol and risks of acute pancreatitis development are obvious problems as well.
It affects the way he walks with his toes and arms out. Doctors speculated that he snores heavily.
A slow-motion video of his walk during the first summit with his presence showed he’d exhaled 35 times on a 42 seconds walk. Either he was very nervous, or his lung capacity was reduced. There also seemed to be something wrong with his right ankle, – consistent with the reports from 2014, although not prove that it was the result of excessive cheese consumption – and that he could be wearing a brace.
We assume Kim Jong-Un understands his physical condition and seeks to ensure power continuity, so that his sister was introduced into the political system. Imagery analysis suggests the North Korean leader is bringing Kim Yo Jong up to date, as well as securing her position among the North Korean elite.
On Aug. 20, 2020 ranking lawmaker of the National Assembly’s Intelligence Committee, Ha Tae-keung, told reporters that Kim Jong Un delegated some authority to rule to Kim Yo Jong, partly due to “stress.” Ha was reportedly briefed on the matter by the country’s intelligence agency.
A few hours later, a press officer from the NIS clarified to reporters that the agency simply meant that more authority has been delegated to officials compared to the past, though the press officer also noted that Kim Yo Jong is “de facto second in command.”
However there are no signs yet that Kim Jong Un is losing power or succumbing to health issues.
It looks like a normalization of party affairs where the Presidium of the ruling party Politburo has five members with all four institutions — cabinet, military, party, Supreme People’s Assembly Presidium — having a representative.
The three pillars of the North Korean political system are the party, the government and the military.
Kim Jong Un is simply trying to strike a balance between these institutions, entrusting more responsibilities to top officials in charge of specific sectors as a way of running North Korea in a more “normal” communist manner.
