Kim Jong Un death rumors are spreading again. Is there any evidence?

In October, rumors spread online that North Korea’s supreme leader Kim Jong Un had died from a serious health condition. 

Some posts claimed he died after a brain hemorrhage led to a coma, while others pointed to he died from myocarditis, a heart condition. 

Snopes readers also asked us to verify Kim’s condition and whereabouts. 

(X user @xie_wanjun)

Snopes found no verifiable evidence confirming Kim had died. North Korea’s supreme leader has been the frequent subject of death hoaxes in the past. 

North Korean state media posted images that they claim show him visiting a garment and footwear exhibition on Oct. 19, but we were unable to definitively confirm when they were taken. Furthermore, we could not independently verify claims about Kim’s health or medical history. Until we know more, we’ve left this claim unrated. 

Snopes reached out to the North Korean permanent mission to the United Nations to learn more and will update this story accordingly. 

The earliest example of this rumor originated from U.S-based Chinese dissident Wanjun Xie, who also claimed on X that Chinese President Xi Jinping was dead. Xie alleged that due to poor medical facilities in North Korea, Kim went to Beijing, China, to receive treatment. 

As seen above, Xie shared a video claiming to show a North Korean news announcement of Kim’s death. This video is from 2011, not 2026, and shows a North Korean newscaster announcing the death of Kim Jong Il, Kim’s father and predecessor.

On Oct. 20, North Korea’s state news, Korean Central News Agency, released images of Kim on an official tour. The news release read:

Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un, General Secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea and President of the State Affairs of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, went round the venue of a garment and footwear exhibition in light industry on October 19.

He was accompanied by leading officials of the Party and the government.

Comrade Kim Jong Un was greeted on the spot by senior officials of the Light Industry Department of the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea.

A series of photographs published by Rodong Sinmun, the official newspaper for the ruling Workers’ Party of North Korea, showed Kim and his daughter Kim Ju Ae inspecting garments and shoes on display. 

(Rodong Sinmun)

(Rodong Sinmun)

(Rodong Sinmun)

There were no obvious signs of AI generation or manipulation in the images, but Snopes could not definitively confirm when they were taken. Signage in the background indicates the photos may have been captured sometime in 2026 without pointing to a specific date. While this does not prove that Kim is alive, there is no evidence of his death either.

Xie has circulated unverified claims before, including ones stating Xi had stepped down or been ousted from power in China. There is no evidence to support such claims amid news that Xi is preparing for a possible meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. 

If there were authentic sources discussing Kim’s death, this news would have been widely covered by reputable news outlets like The Associated Press or Reuters. That was not the case. 

According to BBC News, if Kim had died, China would likely be tightening security along its borders in anticipation of refugees. North Korean defectors to South Korea also would have received information through their whisper networks. 

News reports over the years have said Kim is a heavy smoker, overweight and has cardiovascular issues, but there’s no evidence he suffered a brain hemorrhage or has myocarditis, as posts suggested.

As we’ve previously reported, North Korea is a black hole for independent media coverage so verifying any information coming in or out is difficult. 

For further reading, Snopes has dug into numerous rumors about the dictator over the years. 

Sources