Kim Jong Un death rumour spreads abroad; North Korea releases exhibition visit photos
In short
A claim that Kim Jong Un suffered a cerebral haemorrhage and died in Beijing spread through social media and foreign tabloids. On 20 October North Korean media published photos of him at a clothing and shoe exhibition on 19 October. The outlets say no evidence has been offered for the death claim.
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A claim that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un fell into a coma after a cerebral haemorrhage, was moved to Beijing and died spread on social media and through foreign outlets. According to Chosun Ilbo, the New York Post and The Sun carried it on 19 October, and Ukraine's UNN and Turkey's Sözcü picked it up afterwards. Seoul Economic Daily also names the Daily Express and says the story reached Indian outlets. It says the New York Post itself said there was no verified evidence for the claim. [ 1 , 5 ]
Chosun Ilbo, Newsis, Kukmin Ilbo and Seoul Economic Daily trace the claim to Xie Wanjun, a Chinese dissident in the United States who calls himself leader of the China Democracy Party. Chosun Ilbo, Kukmin Ilbo and Seoul Economic Daily say he posted on X on 18 October. Chosun Ilbo and Seoul Economic Daily say he claimed that doctors from a Beijing hospital were sent to North Korea on 17 October. They say he claimed Kim died and his body was secretly returned, and that China sent 9,000 troops to Pyongyang. Kukmin Ilbo says he gave no basis for the claims. Chosun Ilbo, Newsis, Maeil Business and Seoul Economic Daily say no medical records, witness accounts or other objective evidence were presented. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
On 20 October North Korea's KCNA reported that Kim visited the 'National Clothing and Shoe Exhibition 2026' in Pyongyang on 19 October with his wife Ri Sol Ju and daughter Kim Ju Ae. The photos show him looking at pink children's shoes and touching the sleeve of a woman's coat. They also show him gesturing with open arms to officials. Newsis says the release came a few hours after the claim spread. It and Seoul Economic Daily say the time the photos were taken has not been independently verified. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 ]
North Korea expert Benedict Rogers told The Sun that after earlier leaders died there was organised public mourning, and that none had been seen. He said that if Kim were alive, the authorities would release evidence of it. Seoul Economic Daily says South Korean foreign and security officials called the rumour absurd. Maeil Business says NK News called the claim groundless and said it began on a social media account critical of the Chinese Communist Party. Maeil Business also says neither North Korea nor China has officially confirmed a haemorrhage or an emergency transfer. It adds that US President Donald Trump, asked at the White House about a possible meeting with Kim in China next month, said he did not know. [ 1 , 3 , 5 ]
Chosun Ilbo, Newsis and Seoul Economic Daily say the National Intelligence Service told the National Assembly on 30 September that Kim weighs about 140 kg, which carries a high cardiovascular risk. Chosun Ilbo and Seoul Economic Daily say the agency found no clear signs of ill health and that he was seen running up stairs during a recent naval destroyer visit. All four outlets that mention 2020 say a rumour of his death spread then and proved false once he appeared in public. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 ]
Why it matters
Rumours about the North Korean leader's health recur and draw attention abroad, according to the outlets. The documents say the claim rests on one dissident's social media post and that no objective evidence has been presented.
Key facts
- Chinese dissident Xie Wanjun (謝萬軍), based in the United States, posted on X that Kim Jong Un had a cerebral haemorrhage, was moved to a Beijing hospital and died. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 ]
- Xie also claimed that Kim Yo Jong, a Workers' Party vice department director, had taken power and that China had sent 9,000 troops to Pyongyang. [ 1 , 4 , 5 ]
- KCNA reported on 20 October that Kim visited the 'National Clothing and Shoe Exhibition 2026' on 19 October with his wife Ri Sol Ju and daughter Kim Ju Ae. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 ]
- The exhibition was reported to show more than 70,700 items of clothing and more than 170,000 pairs of shoes. [ 1 ]
- Outlets say no medical records, witness accounts or other objective evidence were presented for the death claim. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- South Korea's National Intelligence Service told the National Assembly on 30 September that Kim weighs about 140 kg, with a high cardiovascular risk, but showed no clear signs of ill health. [ 1 , 2 , 5 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- North Korean media reported that Kim Jong Un toured a clothing and shoe exhibition on 19 October with his wife and daughter, and published photos on 20 October. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- The claim that Kim had a cerebral haemorrhage and died originated with Xie Wanjun, a Chinese dissident in the United States, and no objective evidence was presented for it. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- Rumours of Kim's death also circulated in 2020 and were shown to be false when he reappeared in public. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 ]
Still unclear
- When the published photos were taken. Newsis and Seoul Economic Daily say the exact time of the photos has not been independently verified.
- Whether Kim suffered any health emergency. Maeil Business says neither North Korea nor China has officially confirmed a haemorrhage or an emergency transfer, and the documents give no evidence of one.
- The date of Xie's post. Chosun Ilbo, Kukmin Ilbo and Seoul Economic Daily say 18 October, while Maeil Business says he posted the day before its 20 October report.
- Xie's further claims, including that Xi Jinping collapsed in India and had emergency surgery in Beijing. Kukmin Ilbo reports this claim from Xie's post and says he gave no basis for his claims.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Chosun Ilbo publishes a report on the rumour spreading abroad and on North Korea's photos. [ 1 ]
- Newsis reports that North Korean media published photos of Kim at the exhibition. [ 2 ]
- Maeil Business reports that the rumour is spreading and that North Korea showed photos of an inspection. [ 3 ]
- Kukmin Ilbo reports that the claim has no basis and gives Xie's earlier claims. [ 4 ]
- Seoul Economic Daily reports that South Korean officials called the rumour absurd. [ 5 ]