Kim Jong-Un relapses from diet to hit 22st after ‘gorging on foreign snacks and alcohol’

South Korea’s National Intelligence (NIS) points to North Korea’s recent hefty imports of Marlboro and Dunhill cigarettes, along with full blooded orders of high-end snacks served with alcoholic beverages, as evidence that Kim is battling once more with alcohol and nicotine tendencies.

Yoo Sang-bum, executive secretary of the parliamentary intelligence committee and lawmaker for South Korea’s ruling People Power Party, also raised an eyebrow at reports of Pyongyang officials "intensely" gathering overseas information for insomnia cures such as the sleeping pill zopiclone.

Sang-bum said: “Based on the fact that North Korean authorities have been actively collecting the latest medical information, including medications such as zolpidem, for the treatment of insomnia in high-ranking officials abroad in April, the NIS estimates chairman Kim is suffering from significant sleep disorders.”

The South Korean official added: “Chairman Kim looked very tired with noticeable dark circles under his eyes during his public appearance on May 16.”

Speaking to members of the press, Sang-bum also raised concerns that crime, suicides and deaths from starvation had all risen under Kim.

The North Korean leader has a history of eschewing health advice in favour of the finer things in life.

The stocky head of state is known to possess a penchant for whisky and cognac, reportedly spending over £24million a year on overseas luxury liquor top ups.

Kim’s kryptonite though, picked up from school days in Switzerland, is Emmental cheese.

In 2014, it was reported that he had consumed so much Emmental that he had to retreat from public view to recover.

That year, Pyongyang officials visited a French dairy farm in an attempt to take back cheese secrets, secure cheese deals for their leader, and attempt to poach Kim’s would-be personal cheesemakers.

So concerned is Kim that foreign intelligence services might pry into his diet that his entourage pack his own portable toilet.

Displaying a common theme, Kim is reportedly a fan of caviar, foie gras, Wagyu beef, sushi and lobster.

In February 2023, he sounded the alarm over agriculture output following reports of food shortages.