20.10.2026 07:51
Following rumors that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un died after suffering a brain hemorrhage, the Pyongyang administration took action. North Korean state media published new photos of Kim visiting an exhibition with his wife and daughter.
North Korea's official news agency KCNA announced that Kim Jong-un visited the 2026 National Clothing and Footwear Exhibition held in the capital Pyongyang on Monday, October 19.
The released photos showed the North Korean leader examining children's shoes, looking at women's clothing, and talking with officials. In one of the images, Kim was seen examining a small pink shoe, while in another he was seen touching a women's coat displayed on a mannequin, which drew attention.
HIS DAUGHTER AND WIFE WERE ALSO WITH HIM
It was reported that Kim Jong-un was accompanied during the exhibition visit by his wife Ri Sol-ju and his daughter Kim Ju-ae. Ju-ae, who has frequently been seen with her father at military ceremonies and official events in recent years, drew attention by also taking part in this visit.
It was announced that more than 70,000 clothing products and more than 170,000 pairs of shoes produced in factories in different regions of the country were displayed at the exhibition.
A CHINESE DISSIDENT HAD CLAIMED THAT HE HAD DIED
Rumors about Kim Jong-un's health had spread through social media posts by Chinese dissident Wanjun Xie, who lives in the United States.
Xie had claimed that the North Korean leader suffered a severe brain hemorrhage, fell into a coma, and could not be saved despite the intervention of medical teams sent from China.
The claims also alleged that Kim was taken to Beijing for emergency treatment and that after he died, his body was secretly sent to North Korea. However, no medical documents or independent evidence supporting these statements were presented.
THE TIMING OF THE PHOTOS DREW ATTENTION
The publication of new images of Kim Jong-un hours after rumors of his death spread was interpreted as the North Korean regime giving an indirect response to the claims.
While the photos, which received wide coverage in the British and American press, contradicted the claims that Kim had died, exactly when the images were taken could not be verified by independent sources.
The North Korean regime, however, did not make a direct statement about the death rumors.
IT HAD ALSO BEEN CLAIMED THAT HIS SISTER HAD TAKEN OVER THE LEADERSHIP
Along with the death rumors, a possible leadership change in North Korea had also come to the agenda. Wanjun Xie had also claimed that Kim Jong-un's sister Kim Yo-jong had taken over the leadership and that China had sent 9,000 troops to Pyongyang against a possible power crisis.
However, these claims were also not confirmed. While Kim's sister Kim Yo-jong and his daughter Kim Ju-ae are among those mentioned in discussions about a possible successor, there is no officially announced successor in North Korea.
A SIMILAR RUMOR HAD ALSO SPREAD IN 2020
This is not the first time rumors that Kim Jong-un had died have come to the agenda. It had also been claimed that the North Korean leader died after he did not appear in public for a long time in 2020.
At that time, former South Korean lawmaker Ji Seong-ho said he was 99 percent sure that Kim was dead. However, the claims were disproved when the North Korean leader was later seen at a factory opening, and Ji apologized for his statements.