North Korean supreme leader Kim Jong Un has resurfaced in photographs published by state media inspecting children’s shoes and women’s clothing after unverified reports circulated online that he died of a brain hemorrhage.The photographs, released Monday by North Korean state media, show Kim examining shoes, gesturing toward officials and inspecting coats at a clothing and shoe exhibition. The images emerged amid a wave of speculation on social media about the 42-year-old leader’s health and the possibility of a succession crisis in the secretive country, the New York Post reported.According to North Korea’s official news agency, Kim visited the exhibition on Monday. However, the photographs have not been independently authenticated and it is unclear when exactly they were taken.One image shows Kim leaning forward to inspect a small pink shoe held by a woman. In another, he gestures with outstretched arms as he appears to be speaking to an official. A third photograph shows him reaching for the sleeve of a woman’s coat displayed on a mannequin.
How the Death Rumors Started
Speculation intensified after Wanjun Xie, a US-based Chinese dissident associated with the Chinese Democratic Party, published a series of claims about X alleging that Kim was dead and that his sister, Kim Yo Jong, had taken control of the country.In a post Monday, Xie wrote: “Rumours about the death of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un have been circulating online for days, but Kim Jong Un has yet to make a public appearance to deny them. This indirectly confirms that the rumors about Kim Jong Un’s death are probably true. Yo-jong.“After taking power, Kim Yo-jong immediately activated the loudspeakers towards South Korea and fired 201 warning shots. She also warned South Korea that North Korea was considering a comprehensive upgrade of its tactical strike capabilities. This sudden escalation of threats against South Korea is clearly aimed at strengthening its control over the North Korean military and consolidating its power through strong external threats. This indirectly confirms the rumors that Kim Jong-un is dead and that Kim Yo-jong currently controls the regime; these rumors are probably true. »The New York Post reported that Xie’s claims began to gain traction on Sunday. However, the allegations were not supported by medical records, identifiable witnesses, or other independently verifiable evidence.In another post on Sunday, Xie claimed that Kim suffered a severe brain hemorrhage, fell into a coma and was transferred to Beijing for emergency treatment. He alleged that a team of specialists from Peking Union Medical College Hospital visited North Korea before Kim was transferred to China.“It is rumored that Kim Jong-un, general secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea and supreme leader of North Korea, recently suffered a severe brain hemorrhage and fell into a coma. Although a team of medical experts from Peking Union Medical College Hospital was sent to North Korea to assist with his treatment, the poor medical conditions in North Korea forced Kim Jong-un to be transferred to Peking Union Medical College Hospital for emergency treatment. However, due to the severity of his condition and the fact that the optimal window for treatment had passed, Kim Jong-un succumbed to his injuries and died. His body was secretly returned to North Korea and the news of his death is being kept secret. »Xie further claimed that Kim’s body was secretly flown back to North Korea and that authorities were hiding the news of his death. He also claimed that Chinese troops had been deployed to Pyongyang amid fears of a succession crisis.In a separate article, he wrote: “It is said that on October 17, Beijing Union Medical College Hospital sent a team of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular medicine experts to North Korea to participate in the rescue of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, who was in critical condition. »
Allegations of Chinese troop deployment
Xie’s messages also fueled speculation about a possible power struggle involving Kim’s daughter, Kim Ju-ae, and her sister, Kim Yo Jong. He said China had sent 9,000 troops to Pyongyang to help stabilize the situation.Claims about Kim’s death, Chinese troop deployment and a possible succession crisis remain unverified. North Korean authorities have not explicitly responded to reports of the deaths.
What do we know about Kim’s health?
Kim’s health has long been the subject of international speculation. The New York Post reported that South Korea’s National Intelligence Service told lawmakers on September 30 that Kim weighed about 140 kilograms (309 pounds) and was at high risk of cardiovascular disease due to severe obesity.However, the agency reportedly detected no significant signs of poor health, underscoring Kim’s ability to run up stairs during an inspection of a naval destroyer.The latest rumors echo a false alarm dating from 2020, when Ji Seong-ho, a North Korean defector who later became a South Korean lawmaker, claimed he was “99%” certain that Kim had died following cardiovascular surgery. Kim later appeared in public and Ji apologized for making the erroneous claim.The New York Post said it had sought comment from the governments of North Korea and China, as well as Peking Union Medical College Hospital.
Gn world
