NK leader caught limping on TV again

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un walks with a limp on stage at a ceremony marking the 20th anniversary of the death of his grandfather and the state founder, Kim Il-sung, at a stadium in Pyongyang, in this July 8 file photo. / Yonhap

By Kang Seung-woo

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un was recently shown limping on state television, raising questions about the health of the 31-year-old dictator.

Some experts say that the full display of Kim walking with a limp was intended to convey that he was fully in charge and reassure, ironically, the public of his good health.

It is generally believed that an accident or health problem was the cause.

Kim looks obese despite his young age. It is widely speculated that he gained weight on purpose to make himself look like his grandfather and founder of the communist state Kim Il-sung to enable the younger Kim to ascend to power at a young age after his father, Kim Jong-il, died in late 2011.

Footage from Korean Central Television (KCTV) Tuesday showed Kim walking with a limp, favoring his left leg, during a visit to a newly built factory in August, called “the Oct. 8 Factory.”

While inspecting the factory, Kim did not rely on a crutch or others accompanying him, but it was obvious to viewers he was walking with a limp.

However, the media didn’t explain what caused Kim’s condition.

It is not the first time that Kim has been captured limping on state television.

In July, Kim limped onto center stage during the 20th anniversary to mark the death of Kim Il-sung, raising speculation about his health in South Korea, where the media has committed to covering the ruler’s physical issues due to his smoking habit and obesity. He was favoring his right leg at that time.

There was a rumor that Kim had plastic surgery on his forehead to look more like his deceased grandfather, referred to as the nation’s “eternal president.”

The North’s state-run media are not particularly discreet about displaying its leaders with health problems.

Kim Il-sung forbade state media from filming or photographing the late founder of the Stalinist country, since there was a large and incurable tennis-ball sized lump on the back of his neck. However, the rule was not strictly enforced with photos of him with the lump often made available.

"By presenting the image of Kim limping, the North is attempting to portray him as an invincible and energetic leader who is unstoppable," said Kim Heung-kwang, head of the North Korea Intellectuals Solidarity group.

Medical experts speculated that as the overweight Kim heavily relied on his left leg for the last few months, it is now ailing.