North Korean supreme leader Kim Jong Un has resurfaced in photographs released by state media, inspecting children’s footwear and women’s clothing, after unverified claims circulated online that he had died from a brain haemorrhage.The photographs, published by North Korea’s official media on Monday, show Kim examining footwear, gesturing towards officials and inspecting coats at a garment and footwear exhibition. The images emerged amid a wave of social media speculation about the 42-year-old leader’s health and the possibility of a succession crisis in the secretive country, the New York Post reported.According to North Korea’s official Korean Central News Agency, Kim toured the exhibition on Monday. However, the photographs have not been independently authenticated, and it remains unclear precisely when they were taken.One image shows Kim bending forward to inspect a small pink shoe held by a woman. In another, he gestures with his arms outstretched as he appears to address an official. A third photograph captures him reaching towards the sleeve of a woman’s coat displayed on a mannequin.
How the death rumours began
The speculation gathered pace after Wanjun Xie, a US-based Chinese dissident associated with the China Democracy Party, posted a series of claims on X alleging that Kim had died and that his sister, Kim Yo Jong, had taken control of the country.In a post on Monday, Xie wrote: “Rumours of the death of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un have been circulating online for days, but Kim Jong Un has not yet made a public appearance to deny them. This indirectly confirms that the rumours of Kim Jong Un’s death are likely true. Furthermore, it is rumoured that after Kim Jong-un’s death, the North Korean regime has not been transferred to his daughter Kim Ju-ae, but is currently in the hands of his sister Kim Yo-jong.“After assuming power, Kim Yo-jong immediately activated loudspeaker broadcasts to South Korea and fired 201 warning shots. She also warned South Korea that North Korea was considering a comprehensive upgrade of its tactical strike capabilities. This sudden intensification of threats against South Korea is clearly aimed at strengthening her control over the North Korean military and consolidating her power through strong external threats. This indirectly confirms the rumors that Kim Jong-un is dead and that Kim Yo-jong is currently in control of the regime; these rumors are likely true.”The New York Post reported that Xie’s claims began gaining traction on Sunday. However, the allegations have not been supported by medical records, identifiable witnesses or other independently verifiable evidence.In another post on Sunday, Xie claimed that Kim had suffered a severe cerebral haemorrhage, fallen into a coma and been transferred to Beijing for emergency treatment. He alleged that a team of specialists from Peking Union Medical College Hospital had travelled to North Korea before Kim was moved to China.“It is rumoured that recently, Kim Jong-un, General Secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea and Supreme Leader of North Korea, suffered a severe cerebral haemorrhage and fell into a coma. Although a team of medical experts from Peking Union Medical College Hospital was dispatched to North Korea to assist in his treatment, the poor medical conditions in North Korea forced Kim Jong-un to be transferred to Peking Union Medical College Hospital for emergency treatment. However, due to the severity of his condition and the fact that the optimal window for treatment had passed, Kim Jong-un succumbed to his injuries and died. His body has been secretly transported back to North Korea, and the news of his death is being kept under wraps.”Xie further alleged that Kim’s body had been secretly returned to North Korea and that authorities were concealing news of his death. He also claimed that Chinese troops had been deployed to Pyongyang amid fears of a succession crisis.In a separate post, he wrote: “It is said that on October 17, Peking Union Medical College Hospital dispatched a team of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular medical experts to North Korea to participate in the rescue of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, who was in critical condition.”
Claims of Chinese troop deployment
Xie’s posts also fuelled speculation about a possible power struggle involving Kim’s daughter, Kim Ju-ae, and his sister, Kim Yo Jong. He claimed that China had sent 9,000 troops to Pyongyang to help stabilise the situation.The claims of Kim’s death, a Chinese troop deployment and a possible succession crisis remain unverified. North Korean authorities have not explicitly addressed the death reports.
What is known about Kim’s health?
Kim’s health has long been the subject of international speculation. The New York Post reported that South Korea’s National Intelligence Service told lawmakers on September 30 that Kim weighed approximately 140 kilograms (309 pounds) and faced an elevated risk of cardiovascular disease because of severe obesity.However, the agency reportedly detected no significant signs of ill health, pointing to Kim’s ability to run up stairs during an inspection of a naval destroyer.The latest rumours echo a false alarm in 2020, when Ji Seong-ho, a North Korean defector who later became a South Korean lawmaker, claimed he was “99%” certain that Kim had died following cardiovascular surgery. Kim subsequently appeared in public, and Ji apologised for making the erroneous claim.The New York Post said it had sought comment from the governments of North Korea and China, as well as Peking Union Medical College Hospital.
