The Fat Prince

2 Oct 2010 - This week the young heir-apparent of the hermit state North Korea, Kim Jong-un, was appointed a four star general by his father and named vice-Chairman of the Central Military Commission, the country's most powerful institution. For the first time a picture of the young Kim was published. Analysts say the release of the image - showing a chubby young man in a tight boiler suit - confirms Jong-un's status as successor. The South Korean internet community was buzzing with comments, with one overriding question: how did he get so fat when the country is starving? Most ridiculed the Jong-un, saying he looked like "a fat prince", while another comment referred to the Teletubbies. One comment said: "They look so exactly the same that it is brain-washing". A researcher at the Korea Institute for International Economic Policy agreed: "north Koreans think being fat is good. There is a high possibility Jong-un intentionally gained weight to look like his father."