North Korea Finally Comments On Kim Jong Un's Weight Loss, Health: He's 'Greatly Suffering'

North Korea has finally addressed remarks on the health of its leader Kim Jong Un in a new propaganda video released Tuesday. It comes more than six months after he resurfaced from a month-long absence looking thinner.

Titled “2021, A Great Victorious Year,” the video claimed that the North Korean leader had overworked himself so much last year to solve the nation’s problems that his body “withered away.” The video was accompanied by footage showing Kim struggling to walk down a flight of stairs as his aides scurry around him.

“[Kim] showed us his fatherly side by doggedly braving snow, rain and wind while taking on the fate of the nation and people like his own children,” the narrator in the video said. “His body completely withered away, and he showed his motherly side by greatly suffering and worrying to realize the dreams of the people.”

The program did not specifically address Kim’s dramatic weight loss after he took a break from the public eye in May 2021. However, the new film claimed his issues were brought about by how hard he worked.

The new video comes more than half a year after images of the North Korean leader showed that he had lost a large chunk of weight. South Korea’s National Intelligence Service estimated that the dictator, who previously weighed 308 pounds, lost around 44 pounds.

North Korean state media in June 2021 acknowledged his drastic weight loss in a broadcast, noting that the citizens of the country are “heartbroken” over his changed thinner appearance.

“Seeing our respected comrade General Secretary [Kim Jong Un] become emaciated like that, all the people became so heartbroken,” a middle-aged man said in the broadcast.

The new footage, which showed Kim hobbling down a set of stairs, is also not the first time that the leader demonstrated mobility issues. In the summer of 2014, Kim was seen limping on state TV. He was later seen using a walking cane.

At the time, some North Korean watchers said Kim may have suffered from gout, noting that he is a heavy drinker and smoker. However, North Korean authorities never gave much information about his health status.