North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has appeared in state media looking healthy, following an unverified claim that he had died from a brain haemorrhage.
Photographs published by state newspaper Rodong Sinmun showed the 42-year-old leader visiting a clothing and footwear exhibition with his daughter, Kim Ju Ae, and a group of officials.
The images emerged hours after Wanjun Xie, a Chinese dissident living in the United States who identifies himself as chairman of the Chinese Democratic Party, claimed without evidence that Kim had been hospitalised in Beijing in a coma and later died.
Xie alleged that Kim suffered a severe brain haemorrhage and was transferred to China because North Korea lacked the medical facilities to treat him. He further claimed that Kim’s body had been secretly returned to North Korea and that the regime was concealing his death.
However, the photographs showed Kim examining displays alongside his daughter and officials. Although the exact date the images were taken was unclear, other indications also cast doubt on the claim.
Why rumours about Kim’s health persist
Rumours about Kim’s health have become a recurring feature of reporting on North Korea, one of the world’s most secretive countries, where reliable information is difficult to obtain.
South Korean intelligence officials told Yonhap they had received no information supporting the latest reports.
There were also no reported signs of unusual activity beyond North Korea’s borders that might indicate a sudden leadership crisis. Such developments could include tighter security along China’s border in preparation for instability or refugee movements, increased activity around North Korean diplomatic missions, or information emerging through informal networks used by defectors in South Korea.
The latest claim echoes previous false alarms. In 2020, a prominent North Korean defector said he was ‘99% certain’ Kim had died following cardiovascular surgery. Kim subsequently appeared in public, disproving the claim.
Another reason the rumours attract attention is uncertainty over succession. The Kim family has ruled North Korea for three generations, but the country’s leadership arrangements after Kim Jong Un remain unclear.
Kim Il Sung spent decades preparing his son, Kim Jong Il, to succeed him. By the time Kim Il Sung died in 1994, the succession plan was firmly established, allowing his son to take over relatively smoothly.
Kim Jong Un’s rise to power was more rapid and precarious. After Kim Jong Il suffered a stroke in 2008, his youngest son was quickly promoted through the ranks and publicly identified as his father’s successor before Kim Jong Il died in 2011.
Kim Jong Un subsequently spent years consolidating his power, purging rivals and eliminating perceived threats.
Uncertainty over succession and regional stability
South Korea’s intelligence agency believes Kim may be preparing his daughter as his successor. Kim Ju Ae has increasingly appeared alongside him at high-profile events and military displays.
However, she is believed to be only 13 years old and has not been formally designated as heir. North Korea has never been led by a woman, and her age could leave her vulnerable in a potential power struggle.
The possibility of a sudden leadership change also carries wider implications. Any crisis could raise questions about control of North Korea’s nuclear weapons and the risk of political instability.
A power struggle could lead to aggressive actions by hardliners, while unrest could trigger a refugee crisis along the Chinese border. These concerns affect Beijing and Seoul, as well as Washington, which maintains about 28,000 troops in South Korea.
Kim’s health has also drawn attention because he is overweight and a heavy smoker. South Korea’s National Intelligence Service has repeatedly warned that his lifestyle increases his risk of cardiovascular disease. Heart problems and strokes have also affected members of the Kim family.
Intelligence agencies closely monitor Kim to prepare for developments involving North Korea’s leadership. However, the country remains an information black hole, with only a small circle having regular access to its leader.
Even intelligence agencies struggle to obtain reliable information, and reports are often described as unverified or highly likely rather than confirmed.
The North Korean regime is also suspected of deliberately spreading confusion through misleading information to obscure developments inside the country.
Against this backdrop, it remains difficult to establish the credibility of Xie’s claim. The report notes that he has previously circulated unverified allegations, including speculation about the death of Chinese leader Xi Jinping.
His motive remains unclear. He may have been seeking attention or attempting to embarrass Beijing by highlighting its ties with Pyongyang.
Whatever the reason, the latest episode illustrates how uncertainty surrounding North Korea’s leadership continues to provide fertile ground for unverified reports.
