North Korea disseminates images as "proof of life" of Kim Jong

North Korea disseminates images as "proof of life" of Kim Jong-un amid rumors of his death The images, released by the state agency KCNA, show the North Korean leader walking through a display of clothing and footwear. This publication occurs after a Chinese dissident circulated unverified versions of his supposed death and a potential succession crisis in Pyongyang. This Monday, North Korea disseminated photographs as an apparent "proof of life" of its leader, Kim Jong-un, 42, after rumors circulated about his supposed death due to a cerebral hemorrhage. The images were provided by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), the North Korean state media, in what appears to be an attempt to silence versions about the supposed death of the leader. However, the photographs have not been independently verified, so it cannot be confirmed when they were taken or that they have not been generated or altered by artificial intelligence. In the records, Kim Jong-un is seen during a visit to the National Exhibition of Clothing and Footwear of 2026, an event he was supposed to attend this Monday. In the images, the North Korean leader is seen examining women's clothing and footwear, as well as observing and touching children's coats and shoes. He is also seen accompanied by his wife, Ri Sol-ju, and his daughter, Kim Ju-ae. The origin of the rumors about his death The versions about the supposed death of Kim Jong-un arose this Sunday, following a series of posts made on X by Wanjun Xie, a Chinese dissident who is a refugee in the United States. The rumors were also collected by the British newspaper The Sun, which reported versions of a cerebral hemorrhage and a supposed coma of the North Korean leader. In his posts, Xie claimed that Kim Jong-un had suffered a severe cerebral hemorrhage, which would have forced him to request medical assistance from China. According to his account, health complications would have subsequently led him to a coma. According to the posts of the person presenting himself as the president of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), a team of specialists from the Beijing Union Medical Hospital would have traveled to North Korea to treat the leader. However, due to the supposed severity of his condition, Kim Jong-un would have been transferred to Beijing, where he would have fallen into a coma and subsequently died, according to the dissident's claims. Xie also asserted that the supposed death of the North Korean leader would have caused an internal crisis in the country. He even claimed that China would have sent around 9,000 soldiers to Pyongyang to facilitate a potential power transition to Kim Ju-ae, Kim Jong-un's daughter, in the face of a supposed "civil war." None of these claims have been independently corroborated, and so far they correspond to versions disseminated on social media. COMMENTS To comment on this article you must be a subscriber. Latest Most read 4. Some read, others inform. Take advantage of this unique offer. Digital Plan+$4,120 per month, until the end of the year SUBSCRIBE