"Intent to Cut North Korea Link... No Health Issues for 140kg Kim Jong Un"

[Anchor]

South Korea's National Intelligence Service (NIS) has analyzed that North Korea's statement issued yesterday (September 30) under the name of Kim Yo-jong was intended to sever any link to North Korea, while maintaining a very restrained form. Regarding Kim Jong-un, the agency also reported that while his weight is estimated at around 140 kilograms, there appear to be no notable abnormalities in his health.

Reporter Park Chan-beom reports.

[Reporter]

Yesterday morning, the National Intelligence Service briefed the National Assembly's Intelligence Committee on its analysis of the statement issued by Kim Yo-jong, vice department director of the Workers' Party of Korea, regarding a landmine explosion incident.

[Youn Kun-young / Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker: "The NIS analyzes that by insisting it was a staged incident, North Korea intends to cut off any link to the North."]

The NIS assessed North Korea's stance as "low-key," or restrained, and also took note that the statement was issued by Kim Yo-jong rather than the military.

[Yoo Young-ha / People Power Party lawmaker: "When analyzing the content of the statement, the NIS assesses that it was a very 'low-key' statement."]

Regarding dialogue between North Korea and the United States, the NIS noted that North Korea's restraint in criticizing U.S. President Trump reflects an intention not to derail the situation, forecasting a possibility that North Korea-U.S. talks could take place on the sidelines of the APEC summit scheduled for this November in China.

[Yoo Young-ha / People Power Party lawmaker: "The intelligence authorities analyze that there is roughly a 50% chance of it happening around the APEC summit. They also see North Korea responding in a way that suggests it does not want to miss this opportunity."]

Regarding North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, the agency reported that although he is severely obese in the 140-kilogram range, there are no signs of health problems.

[Youn Kun-young / Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker: "He is at high risk for cardiovascular disease due to severe obesity in the 140-kilogram range, but he carries out physical activities without difficulty, such as running up stairs."]

Regarding Kim's daughter Ju-ae, the NIS stated that her standing as the designated successor is being strengthened, disclosing personal physical details for the first time, describing her as being "160 centimeters tall and weighing over 50 kilograms."

The NIS also analyzed that regarding the repatriation of North Korean prisoners of war, Ukraine had initially requested confidentiality, but appears to have subsequently disclosed the matter in hopes of shifting public opinion in South Korea regarding weapons support.

Video by Lee Seung-hwan and Shin Dong-hwan | Video editing by Yoo Mi-ra
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.