Kim Jong-un appears in public after fake death rumours [Photo: Courtesy]
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has appeared in public alongside his daughter after unverified claims circulated online that he had died following a brain haemorrhage, fuelling speculation about a possible leadership crisis in the nuclear-armed country.
North Korea’s official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported on Tuesday, October 20, that Kim had visited the 2026 National Garment and Footwear Exhibition in Pyongyang a day earlier.
Photographs published by state media showed the 42-year-old leader inspecting clothing and footwear at the exhibition alongside his wife, Ri Sol-ju, and daughter, Kim Ju-ae, according to South Korea’s Yonhap News Agency.
However, Pyongyang has not issued a specific statement addressing the death rumours, and the photographs have not been independently authenticated.
The claims spread across social media over the weekend, alleging that Kim had fallen into a coma, been transferred to Beijing for emergency treatment and died after doctors failed to save him.
Among those circulating the allegations was Wanjun Xie, a Chinese dissident associated with the China Democracy Party. He claimed that Chinese medical specialists had travelled to North Korea before Kim was transferred to China for treatment.
Xie further alleged that Kim’s body had been secretly returned to North Korea and that authorities were withholding the announcement of his death. He provided no independently verifiable evidence to support the claims.
The speculation also included unconfirmed reports that China had deployed 9,000 troops to Pyongyang amid fears of a succession crisis, while Kim’s sister, Kim Yo-jong, had taken control of the government.
Neither claim has been independently confirmed. South Korean intelligence officials have also indicated that there is no evidence supporting the reports of Kim’s death.
The rumours have drawn attention partly because of uncertainty surrounding North Korea’s succession plans. Kim’s daughter has increasingly accompanied him at major state and military events, prompting speculation about her possible future role.
However, no official announcement has designated Ju-ae as his successor. Believed to be about 13 years old, she would also face questions about her ability to consolidate power in a country that has never been led by a woman.
Kim’s health has been the subject of speculation for years, partly because of his reported weight problems, smoking habits and family history of cardiovascular disease and strokes.
In 2020, his prolonged absence from public view prompted widespread reports that he was seriously ill or had died following surgery. He later reappeared at a public event, contradicting the rumours.
North Korea’s secrecy makes it difficult to independently verify information about the leader’s health, creating an environment in which unsubstantiated claims can spread rapidly.
The uncertainty has wider regional implications because North Korea possesses nuclear weapons and borders countries including China and South Korea. Any sudden change in leadership could raise security concerns across the region and draw the attention of the United States.
For now, the reported brain haemorrhage, death and alleged transfer to China remain unsubstantiated. Kim’s appearance at the exhibition provides a counterpoint to the online claims, but it does not independently establish his medical condition or rule out all health concerns.