N. Korea: Kim Jong-il's 'Platform Shoes' -- Analysis

The Daily NK ^ | 05/24/05 | Park Hyong-min & Yang Jung-A

[TigerLikesRooster]

/begin my abridged translation

 Kim Jong-il's 'Platform Shoes' Caught in Pictures
 4-5 inches tall, foreign photographers spotted them

[ 2005-05-24 11:48 ]

A photo from Oct. 2002 issue of 'Korea Today', taken during the 2001 summit with Russian President Putin. 

 

Kim Jong-il is said to be 165cm(approx. 5' 5") tall. However, he is believed to be smaller. It is well-known that he wears platform shoes to compensate his short stature.

His platform shoes are kept as top secrets among N. Korean media photographers.

 We analyzed photos taken by foreign media during Kim's trips to China and Russia in 2001 and 2002. According to our analysis, heels of the shoes are about 10-12cm (4-5 inches) height.

Former Chinese President Jiang Zemin and Kim Jong-il watching a performance in 2001.

Again in this picture, Kim was wearing platform shoes. His ankle is positioned awkwardly probably because of the shoe's heel is too high.

Kim's height is a 'secret.' Those who attended inter-Korean summit in 2000 said that he is about 165cm(approx. 5'5") tall. However, N. Korean defectors say that he is actually shorter. The estimate of his height ranges from 155cm to 165cm (5'1" - 5'5".) The accurate height is difficult to obtain because only a handful of people can be in a position to observe him without the platform shoes.

2001 summit between Kim Jong-il and Vladimir Putin in Russia

 A defector testified, "If you want to be his bodyguards(6th detachment of Guard Dept.), you had better not be tall. A guy I used to know was handsome and had great martial arts skills. Unfortunately, he was 173cm(5'8") tall. He was rejected." We suspect that the average height of Kim Jong-il's bodyguards is 4-8 inches smaller than  that of  bodyguards for other world leaders. We cannot help but worry(?) that his security could be compromised due to this handicap(of guards.)

2001 summit between former Chinese President  Jiang Zemin and Kim Jong-il 

Defectors went on to say, "When Kim Jong-il came for on-site guidance, he has a habit of putting one foot forward, and raising the heel of the other foot, kicking the ground and rotating his ankle." It is likely that his ankle got strained due to high-heeled platform shoes, resulting in such behavior.

As you can see from the picture above, his heel is barely inside the platform shoe. To protect ankles of 'Great Dear Leader' out for on-site guidance, shouldn't they make better designed shoes(for him)?


Photo research Park Hyong-min  

 Article writing Yang Jung-A      

/end my abridged translation

[TigerLikesRooster]

Ping!

[Calpernia]

So the bomb and dictator mentally all stems for his masculinity issues.
Kim, give up the bomb and I will buy you a motorcycle.

[demlosers]

Poor Lil'Kim has an inferiority complex. LoL! Heehee...

[Chi-townChief]

Fantastic!

[Constitution Day]

[Guillermo]

Yeah but at least North Koreans get Free Health Care and a Free Education.

[grizzly84]

Hmm that's a good get rich quick scheme, design a comfortable pair of elevator shoes for Kim Jong Ill and you'll be a millionaire.

[martin_fierro]

Back in the funkiest days of the 70s, a Pittsburgh Steeler (Frenchie Fuqua?) was known for sporting a pair of those to parties.

< /obscurefootballtriviathatanorthcarolinaboywouldhavenointerestin >

[TigerLikesRooster]

Re #3

Kim Jong-il sported a motorcycle when he was young(in 60's.) A Porsche might work.:-)

[Calpernia]

OMG. I was being a wise gal. Finding truth to my slur is unreal.

[Constitution Day]

LOL! He was Big Pimpin'.

[martin_fierro]

I seen it on the Internet. It must be true:

Speaking of Fuqua, he made an appearance on the show, and Steiner asked him about his famous "Goldfish" shoes. For those of you too young, or not from Pittsburgh who have no idea what I am talking about, back in the 70's, John Fuqua was known around the league as being the flashiest dresser among NFL players. You think "Broadway" Joe Namath dressed fashionably? Well, "Frenchy" as he became known, really did wear a pair of platform dress shoes that had see-through heels filled with goldfish. He really did wear them, and said on Saturday that despite the fish eventually dying, he would wear the shoes to events like the old Dapper Dan dinners.

[SevenofNine]

OMG he wearing those platforms shoes that were famous in 1970s disco area Tiger look at those shoes remind me alot

[struggle]

I remember reading this 4 years ago in the Asahi Post.

[Dr. Sivana]

Hey, Elton John is short, too, and had quite the variety of platform shoes. Maybe Kim could be the next "pinball wizard."