The truth behind the photo of Kim Jong-un carrying a mysterious person

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is notoriously cautious about the photos he releases. But a new photo shows a different side of him.

In a photo that has attracted much attention from the international community and was recently published by the KCNA news agency, Mr. Kim is smiling contentedly while carrying an elderly man on his back.

Photo: KCNA

Public opinion asks: Who dares to let the "supreme leader" carry them on their back? And why?

The BBC quoted some observers as saying that the mysterious man had no influence in the North Korean political system. He was believed to have played an important role in the recent test of a rocket engine, and was likely to have communicated with Mr. Kim Jong-un before.

The uniform suggests the person is a mid-level officer in the North Korean military's strategic force, responsible for the missile unit for air strikes, according to Michael Madden, a North Korea expert at the US-Korea Institute at Johns Hopkins University.

He said the photo "was not edited or faked".

With the released image, the North Korean leader appears to be trying to re-establish his image as a friendlier leader, said expert Madden.

This image proves that Kim Jong-un is very confident in his power and leadership. Otherwise, he would never allow such images to be circulated.

The BBC quoted Professor Jae-Cheon Lim from Korea University in Seoul as saying, "We know that he is very strict with officials when they do not follow his orders. But for the people, his propaganda image is very friendly and cheerful."

According to Vietnamnet.vn