Amid rumors of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s death from a brain hemorrhage, the North Korean government has not directly responded. However, state media on Tuesday, October 20, published new photos of Kim participating in an event the day before, suggesting that the rumors may be false.
The state-run Rodong Sinmun and Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on Tuesday published several photos showing Kim Jong Un inspecting a clothing and footwear exhibition on Monday, October 19, accompanied by his daughter Kim Ju Ae and North Korean officials. One photo shows Kim addressing officials at the exhibition, while another shows him and his daughter looking at shoes and other exhibits.
Prior to the release of these photos by state media, a Chinese dissident living in the United States posted on social media platform X, claiming that Kim Jong Un had recently suffered a severe brain hemorrhage, fell into a coma, and was transferred to Beijing’s Peking Union Medical College Hospital for emergency treatment but ultimately passed away.
Although the rumors did not provide any medical evidence, they quickly spread on social media, once again drawing attention to Kim Jong Un’s health issues.
The photos released by North Korean state media aimed to show externally that Kim Jong Un is still fulfilling his official duties. However, these photos have also not been independently verified by external sources.
South Korean intelligence officials told Yonhap News Agency that they did not have any intelligence to substantiate the rumors of Kim Jong Un’s death.
Similar rumors have circulated before. In 2020, a prominent defector claimed to be “99% certain” that Kim Jong Un had died after undergoing cardiovascular surgery. However, shortly after, Kim Jong Un made a public appearance.
North Korea is one of the most closed-off countries globally, with information tightly controlled, making it an “information black hole” for the outside world. The health of North Korean leaders is also shrouded in secrecy, sparking various speculations.
Rachel Minyoung Lee, a senior researcher at the Stimson Center’s Korea program, told Newsweek that these rumors reflect both the secretive nature of the North Korean regime and the significant implications that the death of a leader in a country with nuclear capabilities located in a global geopolitical hotspot could have.
The BBC analysis points to the primary issue of power succession. North Korea has been ruled by the Kim dynasty for three generations, but the prospects for power transition after Kim Jong Un are more uncertain than those during his predecessors.
Kim Il Sung spent decades preparing for his son Kim Jong Il’s succession. By the time Kim Il Sung passed away in 1994, the power succession plan had been solidified, and Kim Jong Il’s path to power was relatively smooth. However, Kim Jong Un’s succession process is more precarious. After Kim Jong Il’s stroke in 2008, his youngest son, Kim Jong Un, swiftly rose through the ranks. By 2011, when Kim Jong Il passed away, Kim Jong Un had been publicly designated as the future leader. Yet, Kim Jong Un took several years to consolidate power by purging so-called political enemies and eliminating potential threats.
Currently, South Korean intelligence agencies believe that he may be grooming his daughter, Kim Ju Ae, as a successor. Kim Ju Ae has been increasingly appearing at various high-profile events and military displays. However, she is believed to be only 13 years old, and North Korea has never had a female leader, nor has she been officially designated as a successor. Additionally, due to her young age, she would be at a disadvantage in any power struggles that may arise.
These uncertainties help explain why rumors about Kim Jong Un’s health always garner widespread attention.
Furthermore, the rumors are not entirely implausible. Kim Jong Un is overweight and a long-time smoker, with the South Korean National Intelligence Service issuing warnings that his lifestyle puts him at a higher risk for cardiovascular diseases. Additionally, heart disease and stroke have a history within the Kim family.
Moreover, the North Korean regime itself may be deliberately creating confusion by spreading misleading information to mask the country’s true internal situation.
Regardless of the reasons, should any unforeseen event occur to Kim Jong Un, it would have significant implications for neighboring countries and the international community at large. Any sudden leadership crisis would lead to a series of complex issues, such as the control of North Korea’s nuclear weapons and the possibility of political turmoil.