Andy Montoya
North Korea's Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un's love for cheese is well-known. While he enjoys various imported cheeses, his favourite is said to be Emmental, a semi-hard Swiss cheese with a sweet aroma, nutty or fruity flavour, and an iconic appearance. He is believed to have developed a taste for it while studying in Switzerland as a child. In 2014, Kim reportedly stepped away from the public eye due to health issues, which were speculated to be gout brought on by his high-calorie diet, lack of exercise, and obsession with cheese. In recent years, Kim's weight loss has been attributed to restricted access to his favourite cheeses and other fatty foods due to the COVID-19 pandemic and international sanctions.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of Cheese | Emmental |
| Other Names | Swiss Cheese |
| Origin | Switzerland |
| Taste | Mild, nutty, or fruity |
| Texture | Semi-hard |
| Aroma | Sweet |
| Appearance | Iconic |
| Production Process | Complicated |
| Kim Jong-un's Obsession | High consumption, imports in vast quantities |
| Health Impact | Gout, cyst on ankle, weight gain |
| Production in North Korea | Low quality |
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What You'll Learn
Kim Jong-un's health issues
North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un has been known for his extravagant eating habits, which include imported cheeses, expensive liquors, fine wines, and gourmet dinners. One of his favorite cheeses is Emmental, a semi-hard Swiss cheese with a sweet aroma, fruity flavor, and iconic appearance. In 2014, he sent emissaries to France to learn how it's made. His love for cheese and wine is well-known, and it is believed that he once had to retreat from public life due to health issues caused by overindulgence.
In 2012, Kim Jong-un's weight gain resulted in a cyst on his ankle, requiring surgery. His health has been a subject of speculation, with reports of gout in 2014, a potential health complication, and even rumors of a body double during his weight loss. Kim Jong-un's disappearance from public view for extended periods has repeatedly sparked concerns about his health. For instance, in 2020, he took a three-week break from public appearances, with some speculating that he underwent heart surgery.
Kim Jong-un's drinking habits have also been a topic of discussion. He is known to import large quantities of alcohol for personal use, including a 2019 incident where 90,000 bottles of Russian vodka were seized in the Dutch port of Rotterdam, believed to be destined for Pyongyang.
In addition to his weight-related health issues, Kim Jong-un's sister, Kim Yo-jong, revealed that he fell "seriously ill" during North Korea's COVID-19 crisis in 2022. She suggested that he had contracted the virus, experiencing a high fever, but continued to work tirelessly for the people he led. North Korea, with its poor health infrastructure, claimed victory over the pandemic, reporting a low death toll and zero new cases as of July 29, 2022. However, experts have expressed doubt about the accuracy of these official reports.
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Emmental cheese obsession
North Korea's Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un is said to have an obsession with Emmental cheese, a semi-hard Swiss cheese with a sweet aroma, fruity flavour, and iconic appearance. This obsession is believed to have contributed to his weight gain and health issues, including a reported case of gout in 2014, which led to him temporarily retreating from public life.
Kim Jong-un's taste for Emmental cheese is thought to have developed during his school days in Switzerland. His obsession with this particular variety of cheese is such that he has been known to import vast quantities of it, despite Western sanctions and the struggle of millions of North Koreans to find enough to eat. In 2014, he even sent emissaries to France to learn how it is made and attempted to send food experts to a dairy college in Besancon, France, for a crash course in dairy production.
The North Korean leader's love of cheese, and Emmental in particular, has been well-documented. It is said that he gorges on it to an "inhuman degree" and that his consumption of it is “dangerously high". This obsession with cheese, along with his love of alcohol and other delicacies, has led to concerns about his health and weight gain. Some have even speculated that Kim Jong-un's weight gain may be deliberate, in an attempt to resemble his late grandfather, Kim Il-sung, who is venerated in North Korea.
The COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting border closures may have temporarily curtailed Kim Jong-un's access to his favourite cheese, contributing to his reported weight loss in recent years. However, his obsession with Emmental cheese and other indulgent foods remains notable, especially in contrast to the struggles of his people, many of whom are starving. Despite the United Nations' ban on the export of luxury goods to North Korea, Kim Jong-un continues to import vast quantities of cheese, alcohol, and other luxury items.
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Weight gain causes
Kim Jong-un's weight gain has been attributed to his love of cheese, particularly Swiss Emmental cheese. He is said to have developed a taste for this cheese during his school days in Switzerland. His obsession with cheese is well-known, and he has been known to import vast quantities of it to North Korea, despite Western sanctions and the struggles of his citizens to find enough food. In 2014, he even sent emissaries to France to learn how Emmental cheese is made and attempted to send food experts to a dairy college in Besancon to improve North Korea's cheese-producing infrastructure.
The leader's weight gain was notable enough that he stepped away from the public eye in 2014 due to health reasons. South Korean newspaper Yonhap reported that he was suffering from gout, brought on by his high-calorie diet, lack of exercise, and cheese consumption. He had also developed a cyst on his ankle, requiring surgery. Experts and defectors have speculated that Kim Jong-un's weight gain may be deliberate to resemble his late grandfather, Kim Il-sung, who is venerated in North Korea as the nation's founder.
Kim Jong-un's eating habits are often described as over-the-top and indulgent, including imported cheeses, expensive liquors, fine wines, and gourmet dinners. He is known to import more alcohol for personal use than most people will drink in their lifetimes. His affinity for high-calorie foods and alcohol has led to concerns about his health, with some reports suggesting he is putting his health at serious risk.
However, there have been recent reports of Kim Jong-un's weight loss, which experts attribute to restricted access to fatty foods due to the COVID-19 pandemic's impact on imports. North Korea's tough border closures have limited his ability to bring his favorite foods into the country. Some analysts also speculate that he may be taking better care of his health through diet and exercise.
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North Korea's cheese production
In 2014, it was reported that Kim Jong-un had a health scare attributed to his high-calorie diet, lack of exercise, and excessive consumption of cheese. This led to speculation that he stepped away from the public eye to recover from gout, a condition potentially triggered by his dietary habits. The leader's affinity for cheese is well-known, with reports suggesting he developed a taste for Emmental during his school days in Switzerland.
Recognizing Kim Jong-un's passion for cheese, North Korea has made efforts to enhance its domestic cheese production. In 2014, the country sent representatives to France's National Dairy Industry College (ENIL) to learn cheese-making techniques, specifically focusing on Emmental. This initiative, dubbed "cheese diplomacy," aimed to recreate the Supreme Leader's favorite cheese in North Korea. However, it appears that the Pyongyang cheese dairy has faced challenges in replicating the desired quality of Emmental.
Despite these efforts to improve local production, North Korea continues to import cheeses, often as part of luxury goods shipments for the country's elite. Kim Jong-un's indulgent eating habits have been documented, with reports of him importing various cheeses, expensive liquors, and fine wines. The United Nations has imposed sanctions banning the export of luxury goods to North Korea, but the country has attempted to circumvent these restrictions.
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Kim Jong-un's weight loss
North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un's weight loss has been a topic of discussion in recent years, with analysts speculating on the potential causes. Some sources attribute his weight loss to restricted access to his favourite foods, particularly cheese, due to the COVID-19 pandemic border closures. North Korea expert Dr. Sojin Lim shared this view, stating that the pandemic may have disrupted Kim's usual import channels for cheese and other junk foods.
Kim Jong-Un's love for cheese, especially Emmental, is well-known. He is said to have developed a taste for it during his school days in Switzerland. His obsession with cheese led to concerns about his health, with reports suggesting that his weight gain was causing issues such as gout and a cyst on his ankle. In 2014, he even sent emissaries to France to learn cheese-making techniques.
However, it appears that Kim Jong-Un's weight loss may be a deliberate choice to improve his health. Some analysts speculate that he is taking better care of his health through diet and exercise. This theory is supported by the fact that North Korean officials warned citizens against publicly discussing Kim's health, possibly indicating a conscious effort to improve his image.
While the exact reasons for Kim Jong-Un's weight loss remain speculative, it has sparked conversations about the leader's health and well-being. It is also worth noting that Kim Jong-Un's eating habits have been described as indulgent and over-the-top, with a fondness for imported cheeses, expensive liquors, fine wines, and gourmet dinners. Despite his access to a variety of delicacies, the COVID-19 pandemic may have limited his ability to indulge in his favourite foods, contributing to his noticeable weight loss.
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Frequently asked questions
Kim Jong-un is obsessed with Emmental cheese, also known as Swiss cheese. He is said to have developed a taste for it while studying in Switzerland as a child.
Kim Jong-un's high consumption of cheese, along with other factors such as a lack of exercise and alcohol consumption, has been linked to his poor health and weight gain. In 2014, he reportedly stepped away from the public eye due to health issues, including a case of gout, believed to be caused by his diet and lifestyle.
There are speculations that Kim Jong-un may have cut down on his cheese consumption in recent years. His apparent weight loss has been attributed to restricted access to fatty foods during the COVID-19 pandemic and potential health complications.
