Ongoing Speculation Surrounds Kim Jong Un's Death Amid Recent Developments

Speculation regarding the death of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has intensified, drawing global attention.

The rumors began after Chinese dissident Xie Wanjun, residing in the United States, posted on X (formerly Twitter) on October 18-19, claiming that Kim had suffered a severe brain hemorrhage and was transported to a hospital in Beijing, where he ultimately died.

Subsequent reports suggested that Kim's body was secretly transported back to North Korea and that his sister, Kim Yo Jong, had seized power. There were also claims that China dispatched 9,000 troops to Pyongyang to facilitate the succession of Kim's daughter, Ju Ae.

International media outlets, including the UK’s The Sun and the US’s New York Post, have reported on these death rumors, contributing to their spread.

North Korean state media reported on October 20 that Kim Jong Un made a public appearance. According to the Korean Central News Agency, he visited the 'National Clothing and Footwear Exhibition-2026' in Pyongyang on October 19.

Photos released showed Kim inspecting children's shoes and women's clothing alongside his wife, Ri Sol Ju, and daughter, Ju Ae.

This was the first public appearance reported by state media since the opening of the Defense Revolution Museum on October 11.

While North Korean media did not directly address the death rumors, the timing of Kim's public activities was interpreted as an effort to dispel speculation about his health.

Amid the death rumors, attention has also turned to Kim Yo Jong's actions. On October 21, she announced plans to resume loudspeaker broadcasts aimed at South Korea, delivering a stern message. She claimed that South Korean forces had conducted warning broadcasts and warning shots at two locations that day, threatening that if such provocations jeopardized the safety of their territory and soldiers, North Korean border troops would respond decisively.

The timing of Kim Yo Jong's statements coincided with the spread of both Kim Jong Un's death rumors and speculation about her potential rise to power. However, she has previously played a significant role in North Korea's messaging toward the South.

Following the spread of death rumors, several major North Korean websites experienced access issues.

Websites using North Korea's national domain (.kp), including the Foreign Ministry, Korean Central News Agency, and Rodong Sinmun, reported instability.

On October 20, over 40 major North Korean websites faced access disruptions for approximately eight hours. While some services were restored, further issues arose on October 21.

The timing of these access problems coincided with the spread of Kim's death rumors, raising interest, although no connection between the two events has been confirmed. The exact cause of the access issues remains unclear.

The recent assessment of Kim Jong Un's health by South Korean intelligence authorities has also garnered attention.

The National Intelligence Service reported to the National Assembly's Intelligence Committee on September 30, estimating Kim's weight at approximately 308 pounds and assessing him to be at high risk for cardiovascular disease. However, they noted that there were no clear signs of health issues.

They observed that Kim had shown relatively smooth movement, including running up stairs during a recent inspection of a destroyer, and that he was under the care of a dedicated medical team.

According to the National Intelligence Service, Kim Jong Un had made 121 public appearances up to that point in the year, a 30% increase compared to the same period last year.

This is not the first time rumors of Kim Jong Un's death have circulated.

In April 2020, speculation about his health arose when he did not attend the celebrations for the birthday of his grandfather, Kim Il Sung. At that time, some foreign media and domestic figures raised concerns about his health, including surgery rumors and the possibility of death.

However, Kim Jong Un appeared at the completion ceremony of a fertilizer factory on May 1, 2020, dispelling the death rumors.

The recurrence of health rumors surrounding Kim Jong Un can be attributed to North Korea's closed information environment. The regime does not regularly disclose the health status, medical records, or detailed schedules of its supreme leader. When there is a gap in public activities, it becomes difficult to independently verify the reasons, leading to speculation.

This time, unverified claims about Kim's health issues and succession speculation have contributed to the expansion of death rumors.

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