North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has reappeared in photographs released by state media, inspecting children’s footwear and women’s clothing, following unverified online claims that he had died from a brain haemorrhage.
The photographs, published by North Korea’s official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), show Kim visiting a garment and footwear exhibition on Monday. He is seen examining a small pink shoe, gesturing towards officials and inspecting coats displayed on mannequins.
The reported appearance comes amid widespread social media speculation about the 42-year-old leader’s health, with claims suggesting that his sister, Kim Yo Jong, had taken control of the country.
However, the death reports have not been supported by independently verified medical records or other credible evidence. The photographs were released by North Korean state media, and the timing of the event could not be independently confirmed.
How Kim Jong Un’s death rumours began
The rumours gained traction after Wanjun Xie, a US-based Chinese dissident associated with the China Democracy Party, posted a series of claims on social media platform X alleging that Kim had suffered a severe cerebral haemorrhage and fallen into a coma.
Xie claimed that medical specialists from Peking Union Medical College Hospital had travelled to North Korea to treat Kim before he was transferred to Beijing for emergency medical care.
He further alleged that Kim had died after doctors failed to save him and that his body had been secretly returned to North Korea, with authorities concealing the news.
The claims, reported by the New York Post, were not accompanied by publicly verifiable evidence establishing Kim’s alleged death.
Xie also claimed that China had deployed 9,000 troops to Pyongyang amid concerns about a potential succession crisis. However, the alleged deployment has not been independently confirmed.
Did Kim Yo Jong take control of North Korea?
The online speculation also raised questions about a possible transfer of power involving Kim’s sister, Kim Yo Jong, and his daughter, Kim Ju Ae.
Xie alleged that Kim Yo Jong had assumed control of the country and was seeking to consolidate her authority through stronger military rhetoric towards South Korea.
However, these claims remain unverified. Statements attributed to Kim Yo Jong concerning possible military measures against South Korea do not establish that she has taken over the government or that Kim Jong Un is dead.
North Korean authorities have not publicly confirmed the reported death or the alleged succession crisis.
What is known about Kim Jong Un’s health?
Kim’s health has been a subject of international speculation for years because North Korea provides limited information about its leadership.
According to reports about a September 30 briefing, South Korea’s National Intelligence Service told lawmakers that Kim weighed approximately 140 kilograms and faced an elevated risk of cardiovascular disease associated with severe obesity.
However, the agency reportedly found no significant signs of deteriorating health, citing his ability to climb stairs during an inspection of a naval destroyer.
The latest photographs do not provide an independent medical assessment of Kim’s condition. Nevertheless, they challenge social media claims that he had died.
Kim Jong Un death rumours have surfaced before
This is not the first time rumours about Kim’s death have circulated internationally.
In 2020, North Korean defector Ji Seong-ho, who later became a South Korean lawmaker, claimed he was almost certain Kim had died following reported cardiovascular surgery.
Kim subsequently appeared in public, and Ji apologised for making the inaccurate claim.
For now, the newly released photographs provide evidence of a reported public appearance but do not independently verify the timing of the event or resolve questions about Kim’s health.
