Kim Jong Un looked really happy touring a fish-pickling factory

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North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on a recent tour of a fish-pickling factory. KCNA/Reuters

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un recently visited a fish-pickling factory, according to photos state media released on Wednesday.

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The photos of Kim beaming next to stacks of food are no doubt meant to send a signal to the world that the country is doing better than ever — whether true or not.

In reality, the country's economy is still under the grip of international sanctions imposed after its nuclear and missile tests. A United Nations report last year concluded 70% of North Koreans were struggling to get enough to eat.

On Tuesday, the White House national security adviser, John Bolton, said the country wasn't holding up its promises toward denuclearization.

Still, Kim looked very happy as he toured the factory with troops while dressed in an uncharacteristically casual getup:

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Kim was accompanied on the trip by his wife, Ri Sol-ju, who followed him around the Kumsanpho plant, smiling and dutifully holding his suit jacket.

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North Korea's first lady is pictured on the right. KCNA/Reuters

Source: KCNA Watch

North Korean state media said the factory, located in South Hwanghae Province, is the first of its kind, producing 30 types of pickled-fish products, including eel, anchovy, and shrimp. Kim called the stockpiles of food a "spectacular view," according to state media.

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Kim wore a more casual outfit, no doubt due to the heatwave the Korean Peninsula has been experiencing. KCNA/Reuters

Source: KCNA Watch

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An estimated 41% of North Koreans, or 10.5 million people, are believed to be undernourished.

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State media reports that Kim called the stacks and stacks of food a "spectacular view." KCNA/Reuters

Source: The New York Times

Kim skipped his usual Mao-style suit for a simpler outfit consisting of a short-sleeve white henley T-shirt, slacks, and a Panama hat. The Korean Peninsula has been experiencing a heat wave.

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The factory Kim visited is the first of its kind, according to state media. KCNA/Reuters
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Since mid-July, temperatures have reached 100 degrees Fahrenheit. The situation is apparently so bad that state media have warned farmers to look after their crops, since they could die off in the high heat.

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Some of the products at the factory were packaged similar to Western products, such as Nutella and Coca Cola. KCNA/Reuters

Source: Newsweek

But on the tour, Kim and everyone with him were beaming.

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Last year, a UN report showed that 70 percent of North Koreans were struggling to get enough food. KCNA/Reuters

Source: Reuters

North Korea Kim Jong Un
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