{
  "id": 10869371,
  "title": "North Korean leader 'extremely obese': Seoul spy agency",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/30/north-korean-leader-extremely-obese-seoul-spy-agency",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-30T05:45:59.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/world/world/2026/09/1544531/north-korean-leader-extremely-obese-seoul-spy-agency"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Seoul's spy agency has revealed that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is extremely obese, according to a recent assessment. Weighing over 140 kilograms (approximately 310 pounds), the reclusive leader is a heavy smoker with a penchant for luxury foods. Despite his weight issues, Kim has maintained his physical activity, such as climbing stairs, and shows no signs of health problems, as monitored by his medical team. Rumors of his illness surfaced in 2020 when he missed a commemoration and disappeared for about two weeks, but these have since been dismissed. Kim's health condition, similar to that of his father and grandfather, raises concerns about succession and stability in the nuclear-armed nation. North Korea faces multiple sanctions due to its weapons programs and struggles with a struggling state-managed economy and food shortages.",
  "summary": "Seoul, Sept 30, 2026 (AFP) -",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 5,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Yonhap News",
        "title": "Spy agency says Ukraine first requested confidentiality over transfer of N. Korean POWs",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/30/spy-agency-says-ukraine-first-requested-confidentiality-over-transfer-10840726",
        "published": "2026-09-30T02:34:19.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Korea Times",
        "title": "Spy agency says Ukraine first requested confidentiality over transfer of N. Korean POWs",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/30/spy-agency-says-ukraine-first-requested-confidentiality-over-transfer",
        "published": "2026-09-30T02:42:03.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "New Straits Times",
        "title": "Seoul suspects Zelenskyy revealed N.Korean POW transfer to win arms support",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/30/seoul-suspects-zelenskyy-revealed-n-korean-pow-transfer-to-win-arms",
        "published": "2026-09-30T03:24:09.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Euronews",
        "title": "Seoul suspects Zelenskyy revealed North Korean POW transfer to win arms support",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/30/seoul-suspects-zelenskyy-revealed-north-korean-pow-transfer-to-win",
        "published": "2026-09-30T05:47:02.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}