Seoul: North Korean leader Kim Jong-un broke down in a rare display of emotions on Oct 13. The emotional side of the North Korean leader, whose alleged illness followed by rumors of death and subsequent “resurrection” have been the talking points this year, took the world by surprise.
A video taken at a military parade to mark the 75th anniversary of the ruling Workers’ Party shows Kim Jong-un taking off his glasses and wiping tears, according to reports.
“Our people have placed trust, as high as the sky and as deep as the sea, in me, but I have failed to always live up to it satisfactorily,” the Korea Times quoted him as saying. “I am really sorry for that.”
“Although I am entrusted with the important responsibility to lead this country upholding the cause of the great comrades Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il thanks to the trust of all the people, my efforts and sincerity have not been sufficient enough to rid our people of the difficulties in their lives,” he said.
North Korea’s economy, already severely restricted by international sanctions imposed over its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs, took a further hit as the country shut down nearly all border traffic in an effort to prevent a coronavirus outbreak.
The United Nations has said that as much as 40% of the population faces food shortages, which may have been exacerbated by severe summer floods and typhoons.
