North Korea released photos Monday night of leader Kim Jong Un following rumors circulating online that the 42-year-old dictator died from a severe brain hemorrhage. The images, published in state media, show Kim touring a clothing and footwear exhibition, examining products and chatting with officials, seemingly to debunk the death rumors.
NEW: Kim Jong Un on Monday “looked round the venue of the garment and footwear exhibition of the field of light industry,” DPRK state media said.
The photo-report came after rumors emerging on social media suggested he had died yesterday.
https://t.co/rAZQMp2Uk6 https://t.co/hmjRn06KX5
— NK NEWS (@nknewsorg) October 19, 2026
According to the New York Post, the rumors began after posts by Wangjun Xia, a Chinese dissident living in the United States and affiliated with the China Democracy Party. Xia claimed Kim suffered a severe brain hemorrhage, fell into a coma, and was rushed to Beijing for emergency medical treatment, where he died after doctors failed to save his life.
Xia described how the North Korean leader’s body was secretly returned to the country, and that China even sent roughly 9,000 troops to Pyongyang over fears of a succession crisis. The claims—not backed by medical documents, testimony, or other verifiable evidence—sparked a wave of speculation about the future of North Korean leadership, particularly the possibility that Kim’s influential sister, Kim Yo Jong, had seized power.
🚨🇰🇵 Kim Jong Un PROOF-OF-LIFE or a BODY DOUBLE?
Unverified claims that the North Korean dictator died of a brain hemorrhage made their rounds and gained traction on social media.
So, what does any repressive, isolated, authoritarian state do when its leadership is put into question?
Release photos of the Dear Leader and his daughter inspecting children’s shoes VERY CLOSELY.
Maybe he has tiny feet?
Source: NYP / Writer: Marie https://t.co/rNyx1jcNbB
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) October 20, 2026
North Korea’s official news agency KCNA released photos from Kim’s visit to the clothing and footwear exhibition. One shows the leader leaning forward to examine a pink children’s shoe, another has him chatting with officials while gesturing with his hands, and in another he’s inspecting a women’s coat displayed on a mannequin.
The North Korean news agency claimed the visit took place Monday, but the timing of the photos cannot be independently verified. Even after their release, Pyongyang has avoided directly addressing the death rumors or providing details about Kim’s health.
Kim Jong-un ‘in COMA after suffering brain haemorrhage’, wild rumours claim as tyrant ‘rushed to China for treatment’. https://t.co/tFxx7iW5Ut
— The Sun (@TheSun) October 19, 2026
The North Korean leader’s health has drawn international attention for years. On September 30, South Korea’s National Intelligence Service told members of parliament that Kim’s weight is estimated at roughly 140 kilograms, and that he faces an elevated risk of cardiovascular disease due to severe obesity. However, South Korean intelligence noted it had not detected significant signs of deterioration in his health.