South Korea responds to wild Kim Jong Un death claim as man behind rumours identified

South Korea responds to wild Kim Jong Un death claim as man behind rumours identified Claims emerged on social media that the North Korea dictator, who is believed to be 42, died after suffering a 'severe cerebral haemorrhage' - but unverified images have since shown him at a factory South Korean officials have responded to wild rumours that North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un has died - as details of the man who first made the claims emerge. Unverified claims had circulated on Sunday that the dictator, who is believed to be 42, died after suffering a "severe cerebral haemorrhage" and falling into a coma. The allegations were posted on X on Sunday by Wanjun Xie, who identifies himself as the chairman of China Democratic Party. North Korean state media has not directly addressed the speculation started by Xie. Instead, pictures were released on Monday of the supreme leader, who took over the leadership of the country following his father's death in 2011, visiting a garment and footwear exhibition in Pyongyang. It is claimed the visit took place the previous day with the pictures showing Kim's daughter, Kim Ju Ae, appeared to have joined him. Now South Korean diplomatic and security officials have stated they have heard "nothing" to support the claims made by Xie. The China Democratic Party is banned by Chinese authorities and is also known to have started other rumours on social media. This includes speculation about Chinese president Xi Jinping's death. Xie said in his social media post that the death took place "recently" and that a team of medical experts from Peking Union Medical College Hospital in Beijing was dispatched to North Korea to assists Kim's treatment. The wild statement reads: "The poor medical conditions in North Korea forced Kim Jong-un to be transferred to Peking Union Medical College Hospital for emergency treatment. "However, due to the severity of his condition and the fact that the optimal window for treatment had passed, Kim Jong-un succumbed to his injuries and died. His body has been secretly transported back to North Korea, and the news of his death is being kept under wraps." None of Xie's allegations have been backed by medical records, images or other independently verifiable sources. At the height of the Covid-19 pandemic in April 2020, a three-week absence from public view sparked speculation that Kim was seriously ill or dead. Public appearances then followed and the rumours soon settled. The recent claims once again raised questions about whether Kim's sister Kim Yo Jong, believed to be 39, had taken control of the regime. This followed claims she had lashed out at South Korea and threatened to deploy additional weapons along its border. She has accused South Korea of firing warning shots and issuing warning broadcasts numerous times at the border since August, under the pretext that soldiers from her country had crossed the border. "A grave situation is prevailing along the southern border due to the reckless behaviour of the ROK military gangsters," she said, referring South Korea by its official name, the Republic of Korea. Questions also remain about whether Kim is preparing his daughter Kim Ju Ae, believed to be only 13, to be his successor as her appearances at public events and military displays have become more frequent. According to South Korea's spy agency, the teenager has been selected by Kim as his heir. The country has never been led by a woman, or someone so young.