The Washington Post
Fri May 20 2016
![North Korea's anti-smoking campaign may have finally reached Kim Jong Un North Korea's anti-smoking campaign may have finally reached Kim Jong Un](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2016-01/51452392189_KimJongUn.jpg)
According to reports in South Korean news outlets, Kim Jong Un hasn't been pictured with a cigarette for at least two months.
(c) 2016, The Washington Post · Adam Taylor · WORLD, ASIA-PACIFIC · May 20, 2016 - 12:46 AM
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is not known for a clean, healthy lifestyle. This is a young man whose ballooning waistline and sudden removal from the public eye almost two years ago was widely (if dubiously) attributed to a powerful addiction to Swiss cheese. Now, however, there is a widespread suspicion that the North Korean supreme leader may have finally kicked one of his nastiest habits: smoking.
According to reports in South Korean news outlets like Yonhap and Korea Herald, Kim hasn't been pictured with a cigarette for at least two months. A quick look at recently released pictures appears to confirm this: The last hint of a cigarette was in mid-May, when Kim was shown sitting next to an ashtray.
There are plenty of reasons to be suspicious about the idea that the North Korean leader may have given up his beloved smokes, however. South Korean media reports on the north are often unreliable. Additionally, Kim's relationship with cigarettes goes back a long time: He is thought to have begun smoking when he was 15 years old. Over the years, he has frequently been photographed chain-smoking at official functions, much like his father, the late Kim Il-Sung, had been before him.
Such a smoking habit isn't unusual for North Koreans. According to NK News, in the 1990s it was thought that around 90 percent of all North Korean men smoked, though almost no women did. Those numbers have dropped since: Around 43.9 percent of North Korean men smoked in 2014, according to estimates from the World Health Organization. These numbers are still high compared with, say, the United States, where roughly 20 percent of men smoke and 15 percent of women smoke; it's closer to South Korea, where 42 percent of men and 6 percent of women smoke.
The move away from smoking can likely be attributed to a North Korean anti-smoking campaign that began in the mid-2000s. Where smoking was once seen as a normal, perhaps even healthy and sociable, activity, North Korean school children are now taught about its negative effects. Recent reports in North Korean state media suggested that the country was establishing "non-smoking research stations" and that warning notices were now being placed on cigarettes manufactured in North Korea. "The number of nonsmokers is remarkably increasing with each passing day," Korean Central News Agency wrote in an article published May 4.
Michael Madden, who runs the blog North Korea Leadership Watch, expressed skepticism that Kim would have really given up smoking. "In looking at [North Korean state media] photos they don't show the desks or tables . . . where his ashtray is usually placed," Madden wrote in an email, suggesting that North Korea may have "eliminated these depictions as part of the anti-smoking campaigns." Madden did suggest that Kim, a relatively new father, could potentially have given up smoking - or at least, not allow himself to be caught smoking in public - in a bid to set a good example to his daughter.
However, there was something else in recent photographs of Kim that was hard to dispute: "He has lost some weight during the last couple of months," Madden observed.
10 Berita Pilihan - (16 Julai 2024
Antara pelbagai berita dalam dan luar negara yang disiarkan di Astro AWANI, berikut adalah yang paling menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari ini.
PAC beri tempoh tiga bulan kepada HRD Corp
Jawatankuasa Kira-kira Wang Negara (PAC) memberi tempoh tiga bulan kepada Perbadanan Pembangunan Sumber Manusia (HRD Corp) untuk mengemukakan laporan tindakan susulan terhadap syor jawatankuasa itu.
Kylian Mbappe tandatangan kontrak dengan Real Madrid
Bintang bola sepak Perancis Kylian Mbappe menandatangani kontrak selama lima tahun dengan kelab Sepanyol Real Madrid pada Selasa.
Pelepasan ketujuh air sisa nuklear Fukushima ke laut selesai
Jepun telah menyelesaikan pusingan ketujuh pelepasan air sisa radioaktif yang dirawat dari loji kuasa nuklear Fukushima Daiichi ke Lautan Pasifik pada Selasa.
Empat termasuk kapten maut dalam pertempuran
Empat anggota tentera India termasuk kapten meninggal dunia akibat kecederaan selepas pertempuuran pada malam isnin di Hutan Desa.
Pakistan sahkan 4 warganya terbunuh di Oman
Pakistan berkata pada Selasa empat warganya terbunuh dalam insiden tembakan pada malam Isnin berhampiran ibu negara Oman, Muscat.
Lima terbunuh, puluhan cedera dalam protes antikuota di Bangladesh
Sekurang-kurangnya empat orang terbunuh dan puluhan lagi cedera dalam pertempuran antara pelajar yang memprotes sistem kuota dalam pekerjaan sektor awam dan polis di pelbagai bahagian Bangladesh pada Selasa.
Kerajaan cadang perkenal pembiayaan swasta
Kerajaan menyasarkan untuk memperkenalkan pembiayaan swasta alternatif bagi memastikan kemampanan kewangan program sektor air, sekali gus mengurangkan kebergantungan pada perbelanjaan kerajaan dan mengukuhkan daya tahan.
Saya tak fitnah Guan Eng, cuma jelaskan siasatan SPRM - Muhyiddin
Presiden Bersatu Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin memberitahu Mahkamah Tinggi Kuala Lumpur hari ini bahawa beliau tidak memfitnah Lim Guan Eng berhubung isu pengecualian cukai terhadap Yayasan Albukhary
KPT alu-alukan dapatan, cadangan PAC - Zambry
Ini termasuklah cadangan pelaksanaan Garis Panduan Pelaburan dan Pembiayaan oleh Universiti Awam 2024 kepada anak-anak syarikat di bawah seliaan Kementerian Pendidikan Tinggi (KPT).
![Pegawai Korea Utara pakai pin potret Kim Jong Un buat pertama kali Pegawai Korea Utara pakai pin potret Kim Jong Un buat pertama kali](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/41719784371_pinpotrait.jpg)
Pegawai Korea Utara pakai pin potret Kim Jong Un buat pertama kali
Pin itu disematkan pada sut semua pegawai Korea Utara yang menghadiri mesyuarat pleno Jawatankuasa Pusat ke-8 Parti Pekerja Korea pada Jumaat.
![Pemimpin Korea Utara lawat Rusia 'apabila semua syarat dipenuhi' - Moscow Pemimpin Korea Utara lawat Rusia 'apabila semua syarat dipenuhi' - Moscow](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-06/61719295987_tbNorthKorea.jpg)
Pemimpin Korea Utara lawat Rusia 'apabila semua syarat dipenuhi' - Moscow
Lawatan Pemimpin Korea Utara Kim Jong Un ke Rusia akan berlangsung apabila "semua syarat yang diperlukan dipenuhi".
![Putin datang bawa kereta mewah, Kim Jong Un senyum dapat hadiah Putin datang bawa kereta mewah, Kim Jong Un senyum dapat hadiah](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-06/81718865599_tbNorthKorea.jpg)
Putin datang bawa kereta mewah, Kim Jong Un senyum dapat hadiah
Presiden Rusia, Vladimir Putin, menyampaikan hadiah limosin Aurus, kepada rakan sejawatan di Korea Utara, Kim Jong Un, dalam lawatannya ke Pyongyang pada Rabu.
![Adik perempuan Kim Jong-un beri amaran kepada Korea Selatan Adik perempuan Kim Jong-un beri amaran kepada Korea Selatan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-06/81717986918_tbloudspeakers.jpg)
Adik perempuan Kim Jong-un beri amaran kepada Korea Selatan
Kim Yo Jong beri amaran tindak balas baharu sekiranya Korea Selatan terus melakukan penghantaran risalah propaganda mengecam pemerintahan Kim Jong-un.
![Berita antarabangsa pilihan sepanjang hari ini Berita antarabangsa pilihan sepanjang hari ini](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-12/61702135893_TBBERITAx.jpg)
Berita antarabangsa pilihan sepanjang hari ini
Antara pelbagai berita luar negara yang disiarkan di Astro AWANI, berikut adalah antara yang paling menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari ini.
![Tiada rancangan untuk elak perang dengan Korea Selatan - Kim Jong Un Tiada rancangan untuk elak perang dengan Korea Selatan - Kim Jong Un](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-01/51704862624_KimJongUn.jpg)
Tiada rancangan untuk elak perang dengan Korea Selatan - Kim Jong Un
Pemimpin Korea Utara Kim Jong Un menggelar Korea Selatan sebagai "musuh utama" Pyongyang dan menegaskan beliau "tidak berhasrat untuk mengelak peperangan" dengan negara jirannya itu.
![Pyongyang mahu perkukuh rancangan pencegahan nuklear - Kim Jong Un Pyongyang mahu perkukuh rancangan pencegahan nuklear - Kim Jong Un](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2022-02/41643791062_TBKIMJONGUN.jpg)
Pyongyang mahu perkukuh rancangan pencegahan nuklear - Kim Jong Un
Pemimpin Korea Utara Kim Jong Un menekankan keperluan untuk negara itu mengukuhkan pencegahan nuklearnya untuk "pertempuran tentera" dengan musuhnya, lapor Agensi Berita Yonhap pada Jumaat.
![Anak perempuan Kim Jong Un bakal jadi pemimpin wanita pertama Korea Utara? Anak perempuan Kim Jong Un bakal jadi pemimpin wanita pertama Korea Utara?](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-01/81704453142_TBNorthKoreanleade.jpg)
Anak perempuan Kim Jong Un bakal jadi pemimpin wanita pertama Korea Utara?
Anak perempuan Kim Jong Un, Kim Ju Ae dilaporkan kemungkinan besar bakal menggantikan pemimpin tertinggi Korea Utara itu.
![Pyongyang mahu lancar 3 lagi satelit peninjau tentera Pyongyang mahu lancar 3 lagi satelit peninjau tentera](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-01/81704152210_KimJongUn.jpg)
Pyongyang mahu lancar 3 lagi satelit peninjau tentera
Pelan itu antara dikemukakan dalam mesyuarat akhir tahun dipengerusikan oleh pemimpin Korea Utara, Kim Jong-Un.
![Malaysia akan terus bekerjasama dengan rakan global untuk gencatan senjata nuklear Malaysia akan terus bekerjasama dengan rakan global untuk gencatan senjata nuklear](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-09/51695425153_TBKimJongUn.jpg)
Malaysia akan terus bekerjasama dengan rakan global untuk gencatan senjata nuklear
Hoo percaya hasil lawatan itu mengatasi jangkaan memandangkan Kim mengetuai delegasi peringkat tinggi yang meliputi pegawai tertinggi parti dan tentera.