Fresh Rumors About Kim Jong Un’s Death Lack Evidence

WHO:

Reddit Conspiracy - A Reddit post attributed its claim to a “trusted source at the AP” and said North Korea’s leader was alive.

Snopes - The subject of the death rumors is Kim Jong Un, North Korea’s supreme leader and General Secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea, and President of the State Affairs of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.

Snopes - Snopes identified U.S.-based Chinese dissident Wanjun Xie as the earliest source of the rumor. Xie also made claims on X that Chinese President Xi Jinping was dead, had stepped down, or had been ousted.

Snopes - North Korea’s Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Rodong Sinmun, the Workers’ Party of Korea, the North Korean permanent mission to the United Nations, and South Korean sources were mentioned in the report.

Snopes - Kim Ju Ae, Kim Jong Un’s daughter, appeared with him in photographs published by Rodong Sinmun.

WHAT:

Reddit Conspiracy - A post said, “A leader of North Korea it is not dead. He’s alive.”

Snopes - Snopes reported no verifiable evidence that Kim had died and left the claim unrated while awaiting more information.

Snopes - Online posts alleged Kim died after a brain hemorrhage caused a coma or from myocarditis; Snopes said it could not independently verify claims about his health or medical history.

Snopes - KCNA released images it said showed Kim on an official tour of a garment and footwear exhibition; Rodong Sinmun published photographs of Kim and his daughter inspecting clothing and shoes.

Snopes - A video Xie presented as an announcement of Kim’s death was from 2011 and showed a newscaster announcing the death of Kim Jong Il, Kim’s father and predecessor.

Snopes - Snopes said the images showed no obvious signs of AI generation or manipulation, but could not confirm when they were taken.

WHERE:

Snopes - Xie alleged Kim traveled to Beijing, China, for medical treatment because of poor medical facilities in North Korea.

Snopes - The exhibition was in North Korea; the report said signage in the photographs might indicate they were taken in 2026.

WHY:

Snopes - Snopes said North Korea’s limited independent media access makes information from the country difficult to verify.

HOW:

Snopes - Snopes said an authentic report of Kim’s death would likely receive broad coverage from reputable agencies such as The Associated Press and Reuters; the report noted no such coverage.

Snopes - Snopes said it contacted North Korea’s permanent mission to the United Nations and was awaiting a response.

(UPDATED October 22, 2026 16:23 UTC)

Online rumors that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un had died remain unverified, and there is no reliable evidence confirming his death. The claims included allegations that he suffered a brain hemorrhage or myocarditis, but those details could not be independently confirmed. Snopes traced the earliest rumor to U.S.-based Chinese dissident Wanjun Xie, who also made unverified claims about Chinese President Xi Jinping. A video Xie presented as an announcement of Kim’s death was actually from 2011 and reported the death of Kim’s father, Kim Jong Il. North Korean state media released images said to show Kim touring a clothing and footwear exhibition with his daughter, Kim Ju Ae. The images showed no obvious signs of manipulation, but their timing could not be confirmed. Because independent reporting from North Korea is limited, the claims remain difficult to verify; major news agencies have not reported Kim’s death.