Claims and Seoul's response
The allegations originated from Wanjun Xie, a Chinese dissident living in the United States who describes himself as president of the banned Chinese Democratic Party.
Xie claimed, without presenting evidence, that Kim had been transferred to China because North Korean hospitals were unable to treat his condition. He further alleged that Kim's body had been secretly returned to North Korea and that Pyongyang had concealed his death.
However, according to the BBC, there is no credible evidence supporting these claims.
South Korean intelligence officials told the Yonhap news agency that they had no information confirming the reports.
There have also been no unusual movements observed along the North Korea-China border or other indicators that might suggest a sudden leadership crisis in Pyongyang.
While it remains unclear exactly when the photographs released by North Korean media were taken, Kim's appearance directly contradicts claims that he had died.
Not the first time
Rumours surrounding the North Korean leader's health are not new.
In 2020, a prominent North Korean defector claimed he was almost certain Kim had died following heart surgery. Those claims were later disproved when the North Korean leader reappeared in public.
The limited availability of information from inside North Korea frequently makes independent verification difficult, particularly regarding matters involving the country's leadership.
The succession question
Beyond concerns about Kim's health, international attention has increasingly focused on the issue of succession.
The Kim family has ruled North Korea for three generations, yet no official successor has been publicly named.
South Korean intelligence services believe Kim may be preparing his daughter for a future leadership role, pointing to her increasingly frequent appearances at major state and military events.
Kim Ju Ae is believed to be around 13 years old and has not been formally designated as heir.
Moreover, North Korea has never had a woman as its supreme leader.
The uncertainty surrounding succession, combined with the secrecy that characterises North Korea's political system, has intensified interest in any reports concerning Kim's health.
As the BBC noted, any sudden leadership change in North Korea could trigger serious concerns about regional stability and control of the country's nuclear arsenal.
For now, however, reports claiming that Kim Jong Un has died remain unverified, with no evidence from intelligence agencies to support them.
Source: BBC
