Kim Jong Il Photoshop Error Betrays Leader's Health Problems? (PHOTOS)

In a bid to end speculation that Kim Jong Il had suffered a stroke, North Korean officials released a new picture of the "Dear Leader" in apparently good health. But is the image genuine?

A Times Online reader with an eye for detail has pointed out that there is something shady about the shadows in the picture.

A close inspection of the photograph published yesterday by the Korean Central News Agency suggests that the shadow cast by Mr Kim is very different to those cast by the soldiers standing alongside him.

Anthony, from Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia, commented on the news story accompanying the image: "Notice how the shadow of Kim's legs is vertical while those of the troops on both sides of him are at an angle."

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Below, the photo in question:

Zooming in to the legs...

Related: Kim Jong Il's "Recent" Photos Stoke Rumors About His Health (SLIDESHOW)

Comments

[Mike169]

He looks more presidential than Bush.

[rummij]

Not saying the photo is genuine but I think the black line on the step has been erased deliberately to give Kim a subtle aesthetic aura. Same with his shadow. The retoucher might have felt that the Dear Leader just oughtn't cast a sloping shadow.

[clduckett]

There was a nearly identical image of Kim Jong Il on the July 8, 2006 cover of The Economist

http://mmadan.files.wordpress.com/2006/07/20060708issuecovus400.jpg

[TParrish]

Looks like it could have been taken on the same day, in the same shoot.

[Dolarhyde]

I don't know much about photoshop personally, but anyone else notice the line on the wall behind the men? Only the area behind Kim is missing the edge line at the top of the wall.

I found that interesting and very telling.

[KISSman]

Shooped!

You would think if someone was good enough to make it look ever-so-close to authentic that they would have been able to get the shadow right. The shadow is clearly wrong. Busted.

[TParrish]

Absolutely photoshopped. I copied the "close up" image and pasted it into my graphics program. Zoomed in, specifically looking for pixelation often found in amateur paste jobs. I found something more interesting. Well, two things, actually.

Compare the top of the step between the two soldiers on Kin's right to the top of the step between Kim and the soldier on his immediate right. The step top immediately adjacent to Kim is too sharp and straight. Definitely drawn in with a graphics editor.

Look at the bottom line of the step where it disappears behind Kim's shoes. It doesn't actually reach the shoes. Compare it to the feet of the other people on the front row.

Add to that the lack of the lip detail on the step behind Kim (already pointed out by other astute post authors), and you have a bad, bad photoshop job. I'd say the graphics editor ought to be shot, but then, he peobably already has been.

[beherenow54]

I can't imagine that Kim Jong II would have a photo taken with soldiers in dress uniform, while he has a scrappy old jacket and sunglasses on. It just doesn't fit.

[J4]

I LOVE THIS GAME! Photo shop it is, look at the step!

[beherenow54]

you're right, I hadn't noticed that. No stripe in the step between the 2 other men and Jong II, but a stripe through the rest of the step.

[melving8]

The photo is real. Kim is wearing a well pressed dress pants while the soldier are wearing baggy pants. The shape of the baggy pants will slant the shadows a bit since the shape narrows down towards the shoes. Notice the man second on his right who is wearing dress pants as well, his shadows is somewhat similar to Kim's.

[Subtle]

I disagree. The shadow of the second man on Kim's left (I assume that is what you meant) is at an angle that agrees with all the others. Kim's shadow has no angle. Also, the tone of Kim's shadow is lighter than the others. What happened to the line, where the two boards meet, behind Kim? This photo is more doctored than a sick president.

[beherenow54]

check the comment above you about the step. There is what I'll call a stripe along the entire step until you get to Kim Jong II.

[pjburns11]

PLUS he forgot to take off his coat, no hat and the sunglasses totally set him apart. He looks totally different than the others. He's easy spot!

www.thetruthburns.wordpress.com

[MrTrailSafety]

This qualifies as a Photoshop Disaster. Not only are the shadows wrong, but the background of the riser behind Kim Jong IL is missing the lip detail. Kinda tells me their ace retoucher was home sick that day. Bad news for the sub—he/she's probably got a new posting with a shovel somewhere.

Commerdial images: See http://photoshopdisasters.blogspot.com/.

Or "The Comissar Vanishes" for vintage 'retouching' magic: http://www.newseum.org/berlinwall/commissar_vanishes/