And this is him about a year later, where he appears to look thinner.

Kim's weight loss has gotten a lot of people alarmed.

From citizens.

[Korean] We were most heartbroken when we saw our dear General Secretary had become emaciated.

And some North Korean experts have raised questions about his weight loss and what that means for the Kim regime.

We don't know precisely why Kim, Jong-un has shed some pounds, but what's clear is how Kim, Jong-un's thinner figure is being used as propaganda inside North Korea.

South Korean Spy Agency estimates believe that Kim, Jong-un has gained about 14 pounds a year since taking over as the country's leader nearly a decade ago.

This weight gain is intentional.

North Koreans like their leaders to be plump.

Also, Kim, Jong-un has tried to style himself, both literally and figuratively, like his grandfather, Kim, Il-sung, who is revered across North Korea.

But these are tough times for the Kim regime.

They're battling with the pandemic, but the regime has decided to seal off its borders, and that's created economic strife.

Certainly, sanctions still exist, so Kim, Jong-un, at various meetings, has been urging his citizens to sacrifice more, to tighten their belts.

Kim, Jong-un has mentioned, uh, potential food shortages.

So the fact that Kim, Jong-un himself looks, by his own standards, more gaunt, this as a propaganda point can be used to project to North Koreans that Kim, Jong-un is alongside with the shared sacrifice, that times are difficult for him, too.

There is no topic that's more off-limits inside North Korea than the leader's health.

Experts say the fact that state media, which is heavily curated and orchestrated, chose to run interviews articulating concern for Kim, Jong-un because of his weight loss shows that this is not a grave health concern but rather, perhaps a rallying call.

Experts say this is more of a message to bolster spirits and to really reinforce that Kim, Jong-un is a person for the people, a leader for the people, more so than an outward message.

But to the outside world, this is yet another reminder of where Kim, Jong-un's attention is at the moment.