Rumors that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has died from a brain hemorrhage have caused a stir both within the country and across the globe. However, no evidence has surfaced to support claims that he has died or fallen into a coma. Amidst this, North Korean state media has released images of Kim visiting an exhibition of clothing and footwear, seemingly intended to demonstrate that he is alive, well, and in good health. This report comes via NDTV Online. Following unverified claims circulating on social media that he had died from a brain hemorrhage, the country released new photographs showing Kim inspecting an exhibition of apparel and footwear. The images were published in Rodong Sinmun, North Korea’s state-run newspaper. Just hours earlier, several prominent figures known for their opposition to the Chinese Communist Party had claimed—without providing any evidence—that the 42-year-old leader had either died or fallen into a coma, and that he was being transported to a hospital in Beijing, China, for medical treatment. In one of the released photos, Kim is seen leaning forward to examine a small pink shoe held by a woman dressed in light pink attire. In another, he appears with his arms outstretched and his mouth open, suggesting he may have been speaking to an official present at the scene. A third image shows Kim reaching toward the sleeve of a rust-colored women’s coat displayed on a mannequin, with several aides following behind him. Prior to the release of these images, Wangjun Xie—a Chinese dissident living in the United States and affiliated with the China Democracy Party—made several explosive claims on social media (formerly Twitter). He initially alleged that Kim had died and that Beijing had dispatched 9,000 troops to Pyongyang, fearing a potential crisis regarding the succession of power in North Korea. He further alleged that after Kim suffered a severe brain hemorrhage, a team of doctors from the Peking Union Medical College Hospital in Beijing was sent to North Korea to provide treatment. According to his account, the North Korean leader fell into a coma and was subsequently taken to Beijing, where doctors were unable to save him. He also claimed that Kim’s body was secretly returned to North Korea. However, none of these claims have been supported by evidence, eyewitness accounts, or information that can be independently verified.
The spread of these rumors—despite the lack of evidence—has raised questions about the future of power in North Korea. In particular, speculation has emerged as to whether Kim Yo Jong, the leader’s influential sister, has taken control of the secretive regime. Uncertainty regarding the succession of power in North Korea is not a new phenomenon; the absence of reliable information about Kim’s health often fuels various rumors whenever he is not seen in public.
The recent rumors regarding Kim’s death are reminiscent of an incident in 2020, when Ji Seong-ho—a North Korean defector who became a lawmaker in South Korea—claimed he was “99 percent” certain that Kim had died following heart surgery. Kim later reappeared in public, and Ji subsequently apologized for his erroneous claim. In the current instance, too, no independently verifiable evidence has emerged to support the reports of his death circulating on social media. The release of new photographs showing Kim at an exhibition of clothing and footwear has cast further doubt on these rumors. Nevertheless, without the ability to independently verify the dates and context of these images, it is impossible to draw definitive conclusions about his health based solely on the photographs.
