Unverified claims that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un had died after suffering a brain haemorrhage triggered a frenzy across overseas social media and several international news outlets, despite a lack of evidence supporting the reports.
The rumours were reported by Britain’s The Sun, the New York Post and India’s Economic Times, which cited social media posts claiming that Kim had suffered a severe brain hemorrhage, fallen into a coma and been taken to Beijing for emergency treatment.
The claims reportedly originated from a post on X by Wanjun Xie, a Chinese dissident based in the United States who identifies himself as chairman of the Chinese Democratic Party, an organisation banned by Chinese authorities.
据传，金正恩与习近平患了同一种病。金正恩死了，习近平离死还远吗？
据称，朝鲜最高领导人金正恩突患脑溢血昏迷，由于朝鲜医疗条件落后，没有及时抢救能力，不得不向中国求援。北京协和医院立即派出医疗专家团队前往朝鲜，参与抢救金正恩。由于朝鲜手术设备太落后，而金正恩的病情太严重，不得不将金正恩送到北京协和医院做手术，但是，由于错过了黄金抢救时间，尽管经医疗专家全力抢救，但依然治疗无效，金正恩死在了北京协和医院。目前，金正恩的遗体被送回了朝鲜，但暂时秘不发丧。
据传，今年九月，习近平到印度参加金砖会议，因突然中风，在会场上昏倒。随习近平出访的医疗专家团队，在现场进行了紧急处置，然后习近平搭乘专机返回北京，并在北京301医院做了心血管手术。尽管当局派出大批网络粉红和大外宣，在网络上反复进行辟谣，但是，习近平在美国访问期间暂时给公众的身体健康状况，例如，上下台阶要靠彭丽媛全力搀扶；参加两个小时的会谈，需要回房间休息5个小时，等等，都证实了习近平曾经中风的传言，应该是真实的。
据传，习近平和金正恩患了同一种病，金正恩没有被抢救过来，习近平被抢救过来了，但是，这种病会反复发作，一旦习近平再次中风，很可能会引发血管爆裂，到时，想抢救也抢救不过来了。
— 谢万军 Wanjun Xie (@WanjunXie) October 19, 2026
In a post on Monday, Xie alleged that Kim had lost consciousness and been transferred to Peking Union Medical College Hospital in Beijing because of North Korea’s inadequate medical facilities. He later claimed that Kim had died, that his body had been secretly returned to North Korea and that the death was being concealed.
No medical records, eyewitness accounts or other independently verifiable evidence were provided to support the allegations.
Xie has previously circulated other unverified claims on social media, including speculation about Chinese President Xi Jinping’s death and assertions that Xi had been replaced by a body double.
State media shows Kim at exhibition
North Korean state media did not directly address the reports. Instead, it said Kim had visited the National Garment and Footwear Exhibition in Pyongyang on Monday.
The Korean Central News Agency published photographs showing Kim touring the exhibition with his wife, Ri Sol-ju, and daughter, Kim Ju-ae. The images showed him examining children’s shoes, looking at women’s clothing and speaking with officials.
The event was reportedly displaying tens of thousands of clothing items and pairs of shoes as part of North Korea’s efforts to promote its light industry.
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The photographs appeared after the death claims began circulating, prompting some observers to view them as an attempt by Pyongyang to demonstrate that Kim remained active. However, the images have not been independently authenticated, and their exact timing cannot be confirmed from the photographs alone.
South Korean diplomatic and security officials said they had heard “nothing” to support the reports. Other officials described the claims as unfounded.
The episode reflects the difficulty of verifying information about North Korea, where state media tightly controls public information and independent access to the country is extremely limited. Claims about Kim’s health have repeatedly generated international speculation, including a widely circulated death rumour in 2020 that proved false.
For now, there is no credible evidence that Kim Jong-un has died. North Korean state media continues to portray him carrying out public activities, although those reports remain subject to the limitations of Pyongyang’s tightly controlled information system.
