The North Koreans released a "new" image of their President, implying the image was from a military art festival

We previously analyzed an earlier image. The new image appears to be from the same event.

The following discusses the basis for this conclusion. We make no comment on whether the images are really of Kim; nor what day the photos were most likely taken; nor whether Kim is or is not still alive.

Caption Parsing: The art performers in the in the new caption could be the parading military personnel mentioned in the first caption.

I. Similar Lighting Effects

The first-released image has distinctive color tones which appear in the new image. The angle of the sun and skin tone colors on the surrounding officers in both pictures suggests the event was taken from the same day:

A. The sunny, cloudless weather is the same;
B. The angle of the sun is similar;
C. The relative brightness of the clothing facing the sun appears to be consistent

Lighting on Skin

The new image depicts real sunlight from the right. This is different lighting than which appears in Kim's face. The lighting in Kim's face appears to be from a photographer's flash, but not a simple flash, but a professional lighting arrangement.

Kim's flesh tones are not washed out as might be expected with a simple flash, but appear to be similar to the skin tones of the officers in the back. This suggests there were multiple sources of light, most likely a reflective screen. This tends to support the conclusion the image was taken with the intent that it was disseminated, looked professional, and was planned for release when the event was planned, and when the images were taken.

Shadow By Structure

Of interest is the apparent stone structure in the new image. The structure suggests that it is between Kim and the rising sun. This angle, position, and distinctive feature may help confirm the most likely position the image was taken.

Note in the back of the new image the contrast between the structure and the shadows to the left. There does not appear to have been enough time to illuminate that shadow with either a professional lighting, nor with a direct flash bulb. This tends to suggest the image was from the early morning.

The question is whether the shadow in this image is from the same event-structure.

II. Clothes

The new image and old image depict matching clothes. There are four striking similarities:

A. Hair length and sculpting

B. The unbuttoned neck-clasp, showing two black clasps

C. The green shirt underneath his coat, and visible collar length

D. The open-loop on his left shoulder (to our right)

Normally, unless a photo is staged, it's difficult to get the same shirt position to match between different days. In both the new and old photos the relative length of the visible collar appears to be the same, suggesting the photo was from the same event.

Also, the way his loose coat-clasp is resting on his jacket: In both photos, you'll notice the clasp tends to rest in the same way, suggesting he had not moved his jacket or hood between the new and old photos.

As reference, notice this photo shows a different collar and jacket suggesting Kim doesn't wear the same jacket to all outdoor cold-weather events. A photo showing the same jacket/placement on Kim is more likely from the same event.

III. Legs

The new image does not depict his legs and shows him only waving one arm, suggesting that there may be something in the first image warranting analysis:

A. Was the first image adjusted to hide a cane?

B. Was Kim elevated in both images, and resting in a wheel chair?

The new image with three officers in the back shows their eyes: All of them are looking up. If there is something about Kim's legs, the aim of showing their eyes could be to distract attention from his legs.

Other View on Clothing

The military personnel's hats and coats are different, suggesting a change in temperature between the two photos. The new photo shows the officers in lighter clothing and hats with less weather protection.

Response to Other View

Kim's jacket does not appear to be different between the two photos. If the photos are recent and sequential, then, assuming it is colder, for Kim to have had more clothing, not the same or less. At best, the suggested increased temperature is not consistent with the cooling temperatures on the N. Korean peninsula.

Also, the two images do not show different hats. Only the soldiers immediately around Kim in the group photo are wearing the cold-weather cap. If you look to Kim's right (our left), you'll see the edge of a military hat -- not a cold-weather cap -- which match the caps in the new photo. Also, notice the slacks -- on the military personnel several positions away from Kim  -- appear to match those in the "new" photo.

IV. Glasses

Both the new and first images depict the same sunglasses. However, Kim wears prescription glasses, yet the news release related to the second photo says he was attending an art festival.

If he was at an art festival, why wasn't the art in the image? The failure to include in a staged photo the supposed "thing" Kim was looking at raises questions about the credibility of the caption.

If he was 'looking at art or performers' how well could he see the art without his prescription glasses? His sunglasses appear to be the same despite the supposed different event.

Other view on Sunglasses and Green Shirt

Kim regularly wears in public the same sunglasses and military shirt. The fact that he's wearing a jacket doesn't mean that the photos are from the same day or event, only that the weather might be the same: Cold enough to wear a jacket.

V. Throat, Digit, Ear

Throat: Of interest is a comparison between the newly released image, and a file photo. The new image shows a distinctive change in Kim's throat -- an apparent horizontal aging line --  not visible in a file photo.

Other view: There is not enough of the throat to compare the two images.

Comment on other view: There is enough to see in both images to suggest there is a change in the throat.

Digit: Notice Kim's first digit in his right hand, behind his left hand: The digit has a relative position relative to his middle finger, with a specific distance or gap. The spacing appears different in the new image, suggesting something has changed.

Ear: For those of you who would like to debate, one possible line of evidence -- that Kim is not alive -- relates to his ear. The new photo does not appear to have the same earlobe structure. Note in the file photo there is a relative flat, smooth area near the top of his ear, and a feature at a distinctive angle. However, in the "new" photo, this distinctive angle-plateau-combination does not appear to be the same, suggesting the images are not of the same person.

Other view

The hairline in both seems consistent. There is a distinctive angle in both photos which appear to be the same. The difference relates to the angle of the image.

Comment on Other View

The angle of the image would not change the apparent structure of his ear.

VI. Conclusions

1. The newly released photo is not designed to create a new timeline, but to show Kim at a different angle.

2. The "new" photo is from the same event, but presented in the Western media as if from a different event.

3. Kim was not waving at -- nor were the three (3) military personnel looking at -- any performers.

4. The photos show Kim has aged, and have not been altered to make him look younger.

VII. Recommendations

Check the original North Korean text attached with both photo sets. There may be some mis-translations between "military parade" and "military performance".

Further analysis is needed:

1. Of the three military personnel in the new photo to see if they match any of the personnel in the original image.  If the officers are the same, it's unlikely they changed uniforms between the two sets of photos; and

2. To establish whether the apparent differences in earlobes means  (a) Kim was not in all the photos; or (b) Kim is no longer alive.