Kim Jong Un's 'withered body' seen in new North Korean documentary

North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un and the status of his health are back in news after a documentary-style film was released by the country's state-controlled media.

In one of the clips, Kim is seen struggling to descend make-shift stairs at a construction site amid rain. The documentary reportedly says that Kim's body "completely withered away" as he "suffered" for the people last year.

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The film titled "2021, A Great Victorious Year" says that North Korea faced its worst-ever hardships and challenges last year amid the Covid-19 pandemic, economic crisis, and severe food shortage.

Last year, Kim Jong Un disappeared from public view for a long time and then reappeared after having dramatically lost weight. The state media had then said that people of the country were "heartbroken" to see their leader "emaciated".

In other clips in the documentary, Kim and other military officials are seen riding horses. One of them is reportedly Pak Jong Chon, chief of the General Staff of the Korean People's Army.

The documentary also sought to project North Korea's military prowess by showing missile launches held in 2021. The missile tests have drawn the ire of Western nations, especially the US, leading to punishing economic sanctions. Clips of tank firing drills were also included in the movie amid tension with its southern neighbour and the West.

New footage of an 80-storey skyscraper which reportedly missed its completion deadline of 2021 was also aired.