North Korea Highlights Kim’s Weight Loss as Food Shortage Builds
- Kim Jong Un looked much slimmer in appearance on June 4
- State propaganda uses sympathy to build support for leaders
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North Koreans broke down in tears over seeing a dramatically thinner Kim Jong Un, state TV cited a citizen as saying, allowing rare comments on the leader’s health that could also help build support as he seeks to revive a sickly economy.
People were “were most heartbroken when they saw the emaciated figure of the respected comrade general,” a Pyongyang citizen told Korean Central Television in comments broadcast Friday. “Everyone says that tears came out naturally,” said the man, whose name wasn’t given.