South Korean officials claim North Korea leader faces heart risks due to weight gain

Seoul spies are claiming North Korea's leader is "extremely obese" and faces serious heart risks after his weight ballooned past 310 pounds. Youn Kun-young, a politician from South Korea, cited the National Intelligence Service when he dropped this bombshell. The report says Kim Jong-un sits at high risk for cardiovascular disease yet apparently runs up stairs without trouble. His medical team keeps a tight watch on him so far that no health problems have been spotted.

This news stirs old fears about succession if the Supreme Leader dies suddenly. Rumors first exploded in 2020 when he vanished from public view for roughly twenty days, missing his grandfather's birthday celebration. Back then, everyone assumed he had undergone major surgery. Now, heavy smoking and chronic weight gain are raising fresh questions about who will take over this nuclear-armed state.

Kim Jong-un is not alone in these habits. His father Kim Jong Il and grandfather Kim Il Sung were also obese smokers who eventually died of heart attacks. That family history adds a grim edge to current speculation. Meanwhile, North Korea still battles repeated food shortages that the UN flags as a major humanitarian crisis. Yet luxury remains on the menu for the top dog.

Paul Smart, an executive chef at Hanoi's Metropole hotel during a North Korea-US summit, spoke up in 2019 about what the leader eats. "He likes caviar, lobster, really luxurious product," Smart said back then. He also noted that steaks served to Kim were cooked rare and tasted like highly prized Japanese wagyu. Foie gras is another favorite he indulges in regularly.

The intelligence picture now points toward a younger successor. The National Intelligence Service believes Kim's daughter, thought to be named Kim Ju-ae, could step into the role. She is roughly thirteen years old and shows up at weapons tests, military parades, and factory openings more often than before. State media calls her his "most beloved" or "respected" child while flooding outlets with photos proving their bond. Earlier this month, officials were also trying to figure out if a son exists, but concluded that any such boy is not in position to become the next leader.