By Holly McKay, Fox News
As U.S. and South Korean intelligence teams investigate the sincerity of Kim Jong Un’s newfound willingness to engage in a denuclearization dialogue, they are also tracking reports the North Korean dictator is dealing with a variety of health issues.
While there is little hard medical evidence, according to sources, Kim’s family history, physical appearance, and behavior in recent years have led to speculation he may suffer from a range of conditions including gout, diabetes, high blood pressure, a sexually transmitted disease, and psychological issues.
“Kim’s health is something our own Intel community is trying to gain every possible insight on,” said Harry Kazianis, Director of Defense Studies at the Center for the National Interest. “There are rumors that Kim might have had plastic surgery and purposely gained weight to look more like his grandfather, the founding ruler of North Korea, and channel some his popularity.”
U.S. intelligence sources acknowledged that piecing together an accurate “health profile” of Kim Jong Un, who is around 35 years old, was not only “critical intelligence,” but the “bread and butter” of scores of experts.
“Health conditions, including use of medicines or drugs, can impact a foreign leader’s decision-making and an expected death or debilitation of a leader can cause instability in a country with potential consequences for US interests,” Bruce Klingner, senior research fellow for Northeast Asia at The Heritage Foundation‘s Asian Studies Center and former CIA deputy division chief for Korea, told Fox News.
So what is known about Kim’s health?
North Korean officials in 2014 acknowledged he was suffering from an “uncomfortable physical condition” after footage was captured of him looking evidently heavier, and walking with a pronounced limp. Experts quickly pointed to gout, which sparked speculation he also suffered from diabetes and high blood pressure.
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