National Intelligence Service Dismisses Kim Jong-un Death Rumors
The Chosun Ilbo · Kim Dong-ha ·
National Intelligence Service Dismisses Kim Jong-un Death Rumors NIS cites Kims public activities and medical care; North Korea releases photos refuting rumors
The National Intelligence Service (NIS) reported to the National Assembly Intelligence Committee on the 23rd that rumors about the death of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, which recently surfaced on domestic and international social media, are false.
The NIS reportedly met with ruling and opposition party members of the Intelligence Committee in a closed-door session that day and explained that the rumors about Kim Jong-un’s health issues are unfounded. During a briefing on urgent issues for the committee on September 30, the NIS also reported that although Kim Jong-un, who is in the 140 kg range of extreme obesity, is in a high-risk group for cardiovascular diseases, there have been no signs of significant health abnormalities. This was attributed to reasons such as Kim Jong-un effortlessly climbing stairs during an inspection of a destroyer and being under close management by dedicated medical staff.
However, recent online rumors claimed that “Kim Jong-un fell into a coma due to a cerebral hemorrhage and died while receiving treatment in China,” and as a result, “his sister, Kim Yo-jong, the Workers’ Party of Korea’s Headquarters Director, has seized power.” These rumors lacked concrete evidence.
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