North Korean leader Kim Jong-il’s shoes appear to change according to his health status.
In the left photo taken during the inter-Korean summit with late South Korean president Roh Moo-hyun in October 2007, Kim wears elevated shoes for a taller appearance.
In the middle, Kim puts on more comfortable platform shoes resembling sneakers while watching a North Korean Army soccer game in November 2008.
The right photo taken on May 14, 2011 shows Kim wearing 2 to 3 centimeter heels during his field inspection at a fish farm.
Observers say that Kim Jong-il’s health has improved since he reportedly fell ill from a stroke in August 2008 in the light of the change of his shoes.
(North Korea’s Korean Central News Agency, Yonhap)