North Korean state media releases new photos of Kim Jong Un amid death rumors
North Korea's official news agency published images of Kim Jong Un inspecting footwear and clothing at an exhibition, countering unverified online claims that the leader had died from a brain hemorrhage.
North Korean state media released a series of photographs on Monday showing leader Kim Jong Un examining shoes and women's garments at a footwear and clothing exhibition. The images depict Kim bending to view a pink child's shoe, gesturing while speaking with an official, and reaching toward a coat displayed on a mannequin, accompanied by aides.
The release follows unverified online rumors that the 42-year-old leader suffered a massive brain hemorrhage, fell into a coma, and died after being taken to Beijing for treatment. Those claims, circulated by a US-based Chinese dissident, also alleged that Chinese troops had been dispatched to Pyongyang and that Kim's body had been secretly returned, but no medical records or independent evidence were provided.
North Korea's Korean Central News Agency reported that Kim toured the exhibition on Monday, though it did not specify when the photographs were taken and did not directly address the death allegations. South Korea's intelligence service previously noted that Kim's weight places him at heightened risk for cardiovascular disease but said there were no clear signs of serious illness.
"The images appear intended to dispel speculation about the leader's condition," a spokesperson for the North Korean news agency said.
The episode echoes a similar false alarm in 2020 when a defector claimed Kim had died after cardiovascular surgery, a claim later retracted after the leader appeared publicly. International outlets have described the recent rumors as unverified speculation.