North Korea issues 'proof of life' images of Kim Jong Un after rumours he had died from a brain haemorrhage

Published: 04:49 EDT, 20 October 2026 | Updated: 04:50 EDT, 20 October 2026 North Korea has issued 'proof of life' photos of dictator Kim Jong Un following rumours he had died of a brain haemorrhage. Released on Monday, the images appear to show the North Korean leader, 42, and his daughter Kim Ju Ae, 13, inspecting a clothing and footwear exhibition hall in Pyongyang. The photos surfaced after Chinese dissident Xie Wanjun claimed, without evidence, that the General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea had suffered 'a severe cerebral haemorrhage and fell into a coma'.Mr Wanjun, the US-based chairman of the China Democracy Party, claimed that Kim was rushed to a Beijing hospital, where he purportedly died. He wrote on X: 'His body has been secretly transported back to North Korea, and the news of his death is being kept under wraps.'Following this, North Korea's state news agency released photos of the autocrat and his daughter. Though they claimed the photos were taken on Monday, it has not been possible to independently verify this. In one photo, Kim was seen inspecting a pink shoe as officials watched on. Another showed him looking at several rolls of fabric as an official spoke to him. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un (R) and his daughter Kim Ju Ae (front 2nd R) inspecting a clothing and footwear exhibition hall in Pyongyang In one photo, Kim was seen inspecting a pink shoe as officials watched onAnd in a third picture, he was seen feeling the fabric of a woman's coat that was draped over a mannequin as aides followed behind him. The health of the North Korean dictator has long been the subject of speculation. In September, South Korea's spy agency claimed he was 'extremely obese' and at risk of heart disease after packing on weight. Kim’s heavy smoking and chronic obesity continue to raise international questions about who would succeed him as Supreme Leader of the nuclear-armed state if he were to die suddenly. His 'health condition is classified as extremely obese' and he weighs more than 310lb, Seoul politician Youn Kun-young said, citing South Korea's National Intelligence Service.While he is at 'high risk of cardiovascular disease', Kim has shown no difficulty with physical activity, including running up stairs, Youn added.'It is assessed that there are no signs of health issues, given the close monitoring by (his) dedicated medical team.'Speculation over Kim's health first flared in 2020 when he missed a commemoration of his late grandfather's birthday. He was away from the public eye for about 20 days, fuelling rumours that he was seriously ill after surgery.Kim's father Kim Jong Il and grandfather Kim Il Sun were also obese and heavy smokers. Both died of heart attacks. The North Korean dictator was seen inspecting rolls of fabric Kim Jong Un tours a new defense museum called National Defence Revolution Museum at an undisclosed location in North KoreaThis 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.