North Korean State Media Publishes Kim Jong Un Photos Amid Unsubstantiated Death Rumors
publishers 31articles 48first reported 20 Oct, 00:56 UTCdeveloping since 20 Oct · 11 editions
North Korean state media published photographs of Kim Jong Un visiting a clothing and footwear exhibition after unsubstantiated claims that the North Korean leader had died from a brain hemorrhage circulated online.
The Korean Central News Agency said Kim attended the 2026 National Garment and Footwear Exhibition on Oct. 19. The photographs showed him touring displays with his daughter, Kim Ju Ae, and government and party officials. KCNA did not directly address the rumors, and the date on which the images were taken could not be independently verified.
The allegations originated with Wanjun Xie, a Chinese dissident living in the United States who identifies himself as chairman of the Chinese Democratic Party. In social media posts, Xie claimed without evidence that Kim had suffered a severe brain hemorrhage, been transferred to a Beijing hospital and later died. He also alleged that Kim’s body had been returned secretly to North Korea.
South Korean diplomatic, security and intelligence officials said they had received no information supporting the claims, according to Yonhap and several reports. Similar rumors have emerged during previous gaps in Kim’s reported public appearances, including a widely circulated but false claim in 2020 that he had died after cardiovascular surgery. Kim subsequently reappeared in public.
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Written from 8 articles, 4 with the publisher's own text; 8 independent newsrooms once syndicated copies count as one; this version written 30 h after the record first saw the story; the editor kept it as written.
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- 8, 4 with the article's own text
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- This version written
- 30 h after the record first saw the story
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