North Korea has released new photographs of leader Kim Jong Un following rumours on social media claiming that he had died or fallen into a coma. However, no reliable evidence has emerged to support the claims, and South Korean officials have reportedly said they have no information confirming them.
The rumours began circulating after Chinese dissident Wang Jun Shi, who lives in the United States, posted claims that Kim had suffered a severe brain haemorrhage and lost consciousness. The post further alleged that he had been taken to Beijing for treatment and later died, with his body secretly returned to North Korea. No verifiable evidence was provided to substantiate these claims.
On October 20, North Korea’s state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) published photographs showing Kim visiting the 2026 National Clothing and Footwear Exhibition in Pyongyang. According to the report, the visit took place on October 19. Kim was accompanied by his daughter, Kim Ju Ae, and his wife, Ri Sol Ju.
The exhibition reportedly featured more than 70,700 clothing items and over 170,000 pairs of shoes produced by factories across the country. The event also showcased the government’s efforts to expand industrial production in different regions.
South Korean diplomatic and security officials told the Yonhap News Agency that they had no information supporting reports of Kim’s death. Nevertheless, the publication of new photographs does not independently confirm his current health condition, as the images and accompanying information came from North Korean state media and could not be independently verified.
Rumours about Kim’s health have surfaced repeatedly over the years, including in 2020, when his absence from public events triggered widespread speculation. North Korea’s highly secretive political system makes independent verification of information about its leader particularly difficult.
For now, the latest reports provide no reliable basis for treating the death rumours as fact.
Reporting by Borderless for The Borderless Journal. Filed under Uncategorized · 21 Oct 2026, 17:00.
