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Signs are that North Korea’s new leader Kim Jong-un is a smoker. Both his predecessor and father Kim Jong-il, and grandfather Kim Il-sung, founder of the communist state; were also smokers. The former died of a heart attack on Dec. 17 last year at the age of 69, and the latter died of a similar heart failure in 1994 when he was 82.
Since his father’s death a month ago, a few field trips by the heir, Jong-un, thought to be in his late 20s, have been made. But some recent images of the successor and his father indicate that the young leader is a smoker.
A documentary about the “Great Successor’s” virtues, titled “Inheriting (Mt.) Baekdu’s Seongun (military-first) revolutionary legacy,” showed an ashtray and binoculars lying on the table in front of the new leader who was accompanying his father to the country's satellite command center in April 2009. The documentary was aired by the North’s state television on Jan. 8.
In addition, there was testimony that Jong-un already smoked when he was a teenager.
Kenji Hujimoto, a former Japanese chef for the late Kim Jong-il, was reported to have said that Jong-un began to smoke cigarettes and drink liquor when he was around 15. He said Jong-un sometimes asked him to share cigarettes he had.
Hujimoto called Jong-un “one who loves to smoke,” adding that he likes to smoke Yves Saint Laurent, among others.
Both his father and grandfather are known for their love for cigarettes.
Doctors advised them to quit smoking for their health, but they did not stop.
Mutsuko Miki, wife of former Japanese Prime Minister Takeo Miki who visited Pyongyang in June 1994, a month before his death, said Kim Il-sung showed few signs of illness but was a heavy smoker.
His son, Kim Jong-il, was no exception. A picture presumed to have been taken in November or December last year showed an ashtray lying on the table in front of him during a field trip.
Reports say the North Korean authorities produced cigarettes exclusively for Kim Il-sung and his son, Jong-il.
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