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Xi Wanjun did not confirm the news of Kim Jong-un’s death, which triggered heated discussion, but North Korean official media immediately posted photos to refute it; The BBC analyzed that relevant rumors have been repeatedly spread due to North Korea’s isolation, unclear succession and Kim Jong-un’s health risks.
Xie Wanjun, a Chinese dissident living in the United States, made this claim without providing evidencenorth korea Leaderkim jong un He went into a coma due to a cerebral hemorrhage and died after being taken to a hospital in Beijing. However, North Korean state media released photos a few hours later showing Kim Jong-un visiting a clothing and shoe exhibition with his daughter, looking quite healthy. BBC reported that North Korea is one of the most closed countries in the world. Facts are difficult to verify and easily open to speculation. Rumors about Kim Jong-un’s health have become almost common.
Xie Wanjun has spread unverified information in the past, including information about the President of Mainland ChinaXi Jinping of death. This time he claimed that Kim Jong-un had suffered severe brain hemorrhage. Due to the lack of relevant medical facilities in North Korea, he was sent to Beijing for treatment. After his death, his body was secretly taken back to North Korea and officials continued to conceal the news of his death.
Although it is impossible to determine when the photos of Kim Jong-un, his daughter Kim Jong-un and the officials accompanying him were taken, the BBC reported that if Kim Jong-un’s health suddenly deteriorated, unusual signs would likely be seen outside North Korea, such as a tightening of border security by mainland China or increased activity around North Korean diplomatic missions. South Korean defectors also often obtain information through informal networks on the Chinese border, but there are currently no unusual indications to support the rumors. South Korean intelligence officials also told Yonhap news agency that they had no information to support the rumor.
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Such rumors have surfaced earlier also. In 2020, a well-known North Korean defector claimed he was “99% certain” that Kim Jong-un had died after cardiac surgery. However, Kim Jong-un’s public appearance soon thereafter made this statement seem suicidal.
Why do such rumors keep coming? One reason is succession issues. The Kim family has ruled North Korea for three generations. Kim Il Sung spent decades developing his son, Kim Jong Il, as his successor. When he died in 1994, the succession system had already been established, so Kim Jong Il successfully assumed power. In contrast, after Kim Jong Il suffered a stroke in 2008, his youngest son, Kim Jong Un, was promoted and confirmed as his successor before his father’s death in 2011, but he still spent several years consolidating power, eliminating opponents, and eliminating potential threats.
The succession arrangement after Kim Jong-un is even more unclear. South Korean intelligence agencies believe he is grooming his daughter King Ae to take power, and she is attending important events and military demonstrations more and more often. But Kim Ae is believed to be only 13 years old and has not yet been officially named as her successor. Additionally, North Korea has never been led by a woman and her young age could also make her vulnerable in a power struggle. These uncertainties have made the rumors regarding Kim Jong-un’s health particularly interesting.
The second reason is that Kim Jong-un faces health risks. The Kim family has a family history of heart disease and stroke, and Kim Jong Un is overweight and a heavy smoker. South Korea’s Love Agency has repeatedly warned that their lifestyle increases the risk of heart disease.
Once there is a major change in Kim Jong-un’s health, it could lead to thorny issues such as control over North Korea’s nuclear weapons and political instability. Will the power struggle prompt radicals to take aggressive action? Could the unrest potentially create a refugee crisis on the border with China? These issues concern not only Beijing and Seoul, but also Washington, which has about 28,000 troops stationed in South Korea.
Intelligence agencies keep a close eye on Kim Jong-un for his reaction to breaking news. But North Korea remains an information black hole and an easy target for false reports. Only a handful of people have regular access to Kim Jong-un, and even intelligence agencies have difficulty obtaining reliable information. Many messages can only be rated as “unconfirmed” or “highly likely to be true”. The North Korean regime itself is suspected of deliberately leaking disinformation to hide the real situation in the country.
Therefore, it is hard to believe that the person specifically responsible for monitoring the situation in North Korea was also not aware of such important news, but Xie Wanjun was able to understand it. He may simply be seeking attention, or he may be trying to expose and embarrass Beijing’s relationship with Pyongyang, even though that relationship is well known to the world. Whatever his intentions, Xi Wanjun is far from the first person to take advantage of uncertainty about North Korea’s leadership.
Summary FAQ
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He claimed, without providing evidence, that Kim Jong-un was in a coma due to a brain hemorrhage and died after being sent to a Beijing hospital. His body was secretly taken back to North Korea and officials continued to conceal the news of his death.
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North Korean state media released photos hours later showing Kim Jong-un visiting a clothing and shoe exhibition with his daughter. He appeared to be in good health, directly denying the theory that he was dead.
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The main reasons are North Korea’s extremely closed information system, unclear succession arrangements, and Kim Jong-un’s health risks such as obesity and smoking, making it easy for the outside world to speculate on his condition.
