Kim Jong-Un’s Health: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know

This undated picture released from North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency on June 9 shows North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un inspecting a test-fire of a new-type ground-to-sea cruise rocket developed by the Academy of National Defence Science at an undisclosed location in North Korea.

President Donald Trump made waves August 8 when he threatened North Korea by saying if North Korea tries to intimidate the United States once more, the country would “be met with fire and fury like the world has never seen.”

The strong response from the president came after a report by the Washington Post said that North Korea has “successfully produced a miniaturized nuclear warhead that can fit inside its missiles.”

The new revelations mark a significant development for North Korea’s atomic arsenal and leader Kim Jong-un. Much has been made of the leader since he took over for his father in 2011 following his death.

Kim Jong-un has doubled-down on his father’s constant threats against America and has upped its missile tests repeatedly. But although he’s around 33-35-years old, the leader has suffered from numerous health issues in recent years. Those include issues brought on by his weight and smoking.

Here’s what you need to know about his health:


1. Kim Jong-un Weighs Around 300 Pounds

This picture taken on July 4 and released by North Korea’s official Korean Central News Agency on July 5 shows North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un, center, celebrating the successful test-fire of the intercontinental ballistic missile Hwasong-14 at an undisclosed location.

Numerous media outlets have reported Kim Jong-un’s weight is at nearly 300 pounds. The IBTimes noted that the North Korean leader has gained a “tremendous” amount of weight recently, going from 198 pounds in 2012 to 286 pounds in 2016.

According to The Sun, Kim Jong-un is so big that North Korean officials made a state request to Chinese officials for them to stop calling him “fat.” The comes after reports that some Chinese officials call him “Kim Fatty III” in the media and during conversations.

The “glorious leader” is said to have a diet that consists of various foods, but his favorites are Swiss cheese and red wine. The Sun also reported that Kim Jong-un has been diagnosed with gout, which comes after his father, Kim Jong-il’s death via heart attack was linked to a high blood pressure and diabetes.


2. Reports Say He Is ‘So Fat He Has Fractured His Ankles’

This undated photo released by North Korea’s official Korean Central News Agency on May 30 shows North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un inspecting a test-fire of a ballistic missile at an undisclosed location in North Korea.

Kim Jung-un suffered from health concerns in late 2014 after he was absent from the public for almost a month, missing a number of important events he typically attends.

Those issues weren’t addressed until July 2016, when North Korean officials spoke out in a rare display of vocalness to set the record straight on Kim Jong-un’s rumored health.

Authorities said that he was absent after suffering from an “uncomfortable physical condition,” which is said to be the result of ankle injuries from touring military bases and factories.

The officials said that Kim Jong-un has suffered a number of ankle sprains that were then worsened by walking more, leading to fractures. The leader was forced to undergo a number of medical procedures to repair the ankle injuries, and he re-emerged with a noticeable limp and, on some occasions, wielding a cane.


3. Kim Jong-un Stands Around 5-foot-7

This picture from North Korea’s official Korean Central News Agency taken on July 3 and released on July 4 shows North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un signing the order to carry out the test-fire of the intercontinental ballistic missile Hwasong-14 at an undisclosed location.

At 5-foot-2, the height of Kim Jong-un’s father, Kim Jong-il, had often been spoken about. His shorter-than-average height appeared to be such a problem that the former leader wore “heightening shoes” that were captured in photographs. The shoes made him appear that he was actually around 5-foot-6.

Kim Jong-un is taller than his father, standing around 5-foot-7, report say.


4. The Leader Reportedly Struggles to Sleep at Night

This picture taken on July 4 and released from North Korea’s official Korean Central News Agency on July 5 shows North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un celebrating the successful test-fire of the intercontinental ballistic missile Hwasong-14 at an undisclosed location.

In addition to disclosing his ankle injuries and weight issues, intelligence officials from South Korea also spoke out about how he struggles to sleep. The intelligence agency said that Kim Jong-un has difficulty getting a full-night’s rest because of fears over his personal safety, “possibly fearing reprisals for several top-level purges,” The Guardian reported.

With the lifestyle he lives, officials warn that he’s also a likely candidate for several diseases.

“He keeps a close tab on any potential threats to his power, including the military, and he is obsessed with ensuring his personal safety,” Lee Cheol-woo, a member of South Korea’s ruling party, said to journalists. “Because of his habitual binge eating and drinking, he is likely to develop adult (lifestyle) diseases.”


5. Kim Jong-Un Is a Reported Cigarette Smoker

Like his father used to be, Kim Jong-un is reportedly a big smoker.

A June 2016 article by The Daily Mirror stated that Kim Jong-un spends millions of dollars on tobacco for himself and his advisers. That shouldn’t be incredibly surprising, knowing that North Korea has one of the highest levels of adult male smokers in the entire world (about half of all adult males smoke some form of tobacco).

Kim Jong-un isn’t shy about his smoking, either. He’s been photographed on numerous occasions smoking, including a visit to a children’s camp in Pyongyang.

Other times he’s been pictured smoking include standing next to a rocket test. His father reportedly gave up smoking cigarettes after orders from a doctor, doing so over 10 years before his death.

There were reports that Kim Jong-un had quit smoking after the country launched an anti-smoking campaign, but he’s since been seen with a cigarette in hand on a few occasions.