North Korea has released what it described as “proof of life” images of leader Kim Jong Un, following unsubstantiated claims that he had died after suffering a brain haemorrhage.
The photographs, issued on Monday, appear to show the 42-year-old leader alongside his daughter, Kim Ju Ae, 13, visiting a clothing and footwear exhibition hall in Pyongyang.
The images emerged after Chinese dissident Xie Wanjun claimed, without providing evidence, that the General Secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea had suffered “a severe cerebral haemorrhage” and fallen into a coma.
Wanjun, the US-based chairman of the China Democracy Party, alleged that Kim had been taken to a hospital in Beijing, where he supposedly died.
Writing on X, he said: “His body has been secretly transported back to North Korea, and the news of his death is being kept under wraps.”
North Korea’s state news agency subsequently published the photographs of Kim and his daughter. Although the agency said they were taken on Monday, the timing and location of the images could not be independently verified.
One photograph shows Kim examining a pink shoe while officials stand nearby.
In another, he appears to inspect rolls of fabric as an official speaks with him.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un (R) and his daughter Kim Ju Ae (front 2nd R) inspect a clothing and footwear exhibition hall in Pyongyang
Kim examines a pink shoe as officials look on
A third image shows the North Korean leader touching the fabric of a woman’s coat draped over a mannequin, with aides following behind him.
Questions about Kim’s health have persisted for years.
In September, South Korea’s spy agency said he was “extremely obese” and faced an elevated risk of heart disease after gaining weight.
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Kim’s heavy smoking and chronic obesity have also prompted international speculation about who could succeed him as Supreme Leader of the nuclear-armed state if he were to die unexpectedly.
Seoul politician Youn Kun-young, citing South Korea’s National Intelligence Service, said Kim’s health condition was classified as “extremely obese” and that he weighed more than 310lb.
Youn added that Kim was considered at “high risk of cardiovascular disease”, although he had shown no apparent difficulty with physical activity, including running up stairs.
“It is assessed that there are no signs of health issues, given the close monitoring by (his) dedicated medical team,” he said.
Speculation about Kim’s health intensified in 2020 after he missed a commemoration marking the birthday of his late grandfather. His absence from public view for around 20 days fuelled reports that he had become seriously ill following surgery.
Kim’s father, Kim Jong Il, and grandfather, Kim Il Sung, were also obese and heavy smokers. Both men died from heart attacks.
The North Korean leader inspects rolls of fabric
Kim Jong Un tours a new defense museum called National Defence Revolution Museum at an undisclosed location in North Korea
This is despite the fact that North Korea has struggled with repeated food shortages over the years, with the UN calling food insecurity a key humanitarian concern.
But a chef who worked with Kim’s personal chefs during a North Korea-US summit has said the leader has a taste for luxury foods.
Paul Smart – who was the executive chef at Hanoi’s Metropole hotel, where the summit was held – said in 2019: ‘He likes caviar, lobster, really luxurious product. Foie gras, he really likes to indulge in cuisine.’
He added the steaks the North Koreans brought for the leader weren’t dissimilar to highly coveted Japanese wagyu, and were cooked rare.