Altered photo makes Kim Jong Un appear thinner
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- Kim Jong Un has recently drawn attention for losing weight, but a photo purporting to show the lighter North Korean leader has been altered.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s weight drew scrutiny in October after South Korea’s spy agency told lawmakers that he had recently lost 44 pounds.
But a pair of what look like before-and-after-photos of Kim that are being shared online don’t reflect reality.
One photo that shows a heavier Kim waving is labeled 2019. The second image labeled 2021 shows a much thinner man.
Posts sharing these images were flagged as part of Facebook’s efforts to combat false news and misinformation on its News Feed. (Read more about our partnership with Facebook.)
The first photo shows Kim in Pyongyang, North Korea in March 2019. The second photo shows him taking part in a parade in the city in September 2021.
But the 2021 photo has been altered in the Facebook post to make him appear thinner than he looks in the original image.
Claims that this photo shows how much weight Kim lost are False.
Our Sources
Facebook post, June 16, 2022
Business Insider, Photos from North Korea suggest Kim Jong Un's weight loss has continued in the wake of rumored health scares, Sept. 9, 2021
NBC News, North Korea's Kim Jong Un has lost weight but remains healthy, South Korea says, Oct. 29, 2021
