Kim Jong Un death rumors spread online. Then North Korean media published photos of him checking out shoes
He's probably putting his best foot forward.
Kim Jong Un was the subject of online death rumors this week, but the latest images released by North Korean state media show the country’s leader doing something considerably more mundane: touring a clothing and footwear exhibition and inspecting products on display.
The photos emerged after claims circulated on social media that Kim had suffered a brain hemorrhage, fallen into a coma, and died after being taken to Beijing for medical treatment. The claims originated from posts by Wanjun Xie, a Chinese dissident based in the United States, but no evidence was provided to substantiate them.
Among the newly published images is one showing Kim leaning forward to examine a small pink shoe held by a woman at the exhibition. Other photos show him alongside his daughter, Ju-ae, and wife, Ri Sol-ju, as they toured the venue in Pyongyang.
Kim’s latest photos arrived after rumors of his death spread
North Korea’s state-run Korean Central News Agency reported that Kim visited the 2026 National Garment and Footwear Exhibition on October 19. The event showcased clothing and shoes produced by factories across the country as part of the government’s regional development policy.
Kim reportedly praised the progress of the country’s light industry during the visit. The photos were released by North Korean state media and have not been independently authenticated. Although they show Kim at a public event that state media says took place on October 19, they did not independently establish his precise health status at the time the rumors circulated.
Kim s public appearance comes amid continued attention to North Korea’s military posture. Earlier this year, he declared the country’s nuclear status ‘irreversible’.
In addition, the speculation went well beyond claims about Kim’s health. Xie also alleged that China had deployed 9,000 troops to Pyongyang to stabilize a successor administration, later making conflicting claims about whether Kim’s sister, Kim Yo Jong, or his daughter would assume power. These allegations were not independently verified, and no evidence of the reported troop deployment or leadership change was provided.
Kim Jong Un death rumors have circulated before
Speculation about Kim’s health is hardly new. North Korea tightly controls information about its leadership, and periods without public appearances have repeatedly fueled rumors about the leader’s condition.
Kim isn’t the only world leader to become the subject of unfounded death rumors. Queen Elizabeth II was once falsely reported dead online, showing how quickly speculation can spread before it is verified.
In 2020, Kim disappeared from public view for several weeks, prompting widespread speculation that he was seriously ill or had died. He later appeared at a public event, contradicting the claims that had circulated online.
For now, there is no verified evidence that Kim Jong Un has died. The latest reports instead document his reported visit to the exhibition, while the claims about a brain hemorrhage and death remain unsubstantiated.
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