North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has reportedly surfaced in China just days after unverified rumours claimed he had died following a brain haemorrhage. South Korea's government confirmed on Saturday that Kim was in China, with the leader reportedly arriving in the border city of Dandong after crossing a newly opened bridge linking the two countries.
Appearance in China
Kim's unexpected appearance marks his first visit to China in a year as he looks to strengthen ties with Beijing and Moscow. A TV screen showed Kim during a news program at the Seoul Railway Station. North Korean state media had not immediately reported on the visit, while China's Foreign Ministry did not respond to a request for confirmation.
Death Rumours Dismissed
Speculation about Kim's health has been spreading across social media in South Korea and beyond. An unverified post, attributed to US-based Chinese dissident Wanjun Xie, claimed the North Korean leader had suffered a serious brain haemorrhage before slipping into a coma. The post alleged Kim had been taken to Peking Union Medical College Hospital in Beijing for treatment before dying. It was further claimed his body had been secretly returned to North Korea and his death was being covered up.
However, no evidence was provided to support any of the allegations. South Korea's National Intelligence Service (NIS) reportedly addressed the rumours during a closed-door meeting with ruling and opposition lawmakers on Friday, telling them the claims circulating online were untrue.
Health Concerns and Monitoring
The agency has previously warned that Kim could be at high risk of cardiovascular disease due to his weight, which it estimated to be around 140kg. However, intelligence officials said last month there were no signs of health abnormalities, pointing to Kim's ability to move without difficulty. The NIS highlighted an occasion when he ran up stairs during an inspection of a destroyer as evidence of his apparent mobility. Officials also confirmed his health was being closely monitored by dedicated medical personnel.
Strengthening Ties with China
Kim's latest visit is his sixth to China since taking power in late 2011 following the death of his father. The North Korean leader has recently sought to strengthen ties with Beijing after years of prioritising relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Kim has sent thousands of troops and conventional weapons to support Russia's war in Ukraine, potentially in exchange for military and economic assistance. His visit also comes as he seeks to align North Korea more closely with China and Russia against the United States in what he portrays as a "new Cold War".
Meanwhile, Kim has maintained a hard line towards South Korea and rebuffed Trump's proposal to revive diplomatic talks, which broke down in 2019. His government has called on Washington to abandon its "hostile policy" and drop demands for North Korea's denuclearisation as a precondition for renewed negotiations. South Korea's spy agency told lawmakers last month that it saw a 50% possibility of a meeting between Trump and Kim on the sidelines of next month's Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Shenzhen, China.
