North Korea releases images of Kim Jong Un amid unverified death claims
North Korea’s state media released images said to show Kim Jong Un visiting an exhibition in Pyongyang with his daughter, after an unverified claim that he had suffered a brain haemorrhage and died. The release appears intended to counter the rumours, but the photos’ date and authenticity have not been independently confirmed.
The claim came from Chinese dissident Xie Wanjun, who alleged without evidence that Kim had been taken to a Beijing hospital and that his death was being concealed. North Korea said the pictures were taken on Monday and showed Kim inspecting shoes and clothing. Speculation about his health has recurred for years; South Korea’s intelligence service has previously described him as extremely obese and at risk of heart disease, while reporting no clear signs of current health problems.
- North Korea released images said to show Kim Jong Un in Pyongyang.
- The photos followed an unverified claim that he had died.
- The images’ date and authenticity have not been independently confirmed.
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North Korea is a one-party state led by Kim Jong Un, who succeeded his father as leader in 2011. The government tightly controls information about the country and its leadership, so independent reporting from inside North Korea is limited.
Kim’s health can matter beyond North Korea because he leads its government and military, including its nuclear weapons programme. Claims about his condition are often difficult to verify, and rumours have circulated before; South Korea monitors developments as a neighbouring country.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “North Korea issues ‘proof of life’ images of Kim Jong Un after rumours he had died from a brain haemorrhage”.