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.
Kim, 37, returned to the public eye in June cutting a much thinner figure after being absent for most of May. During one appearances this month, he issued a rare warning that the "food situation is now getting tense.” The warning comes at a time of the year when food stocks typically run low and the bulk of this year’s harvest hasn’t yet been brought in.