Фото: ЦТАК
North Korea’s Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported on October 20 that Kim Jong Un had visited a national clothing and footwear exhibition the previous day. The report came amid unverified claims circulating online that he had fallen into a coma and died.
According to KCNA, Kim Jong Un toured the exhibition on October 19, accompanied by senior party and government officials. He was welcomed at the venue by representatives of the Light Industry Department of the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea.
The exhibition features more than 70,700 garments and over 170,000 pairs of shoes produced by more than 270 enterprises. Participants include new city and county factories built under the government’s regional development policy.
According to the agency, Kim expressed satisfaction with the scale of the exhibition and the quality of the products. He called for greater attention to design, the production of items featuring elements of the national flag, and ensuring the quality of school and university uniforms, schoolbags and footwear.
Earlier, claims circulated on social media that the North Korean leader had allegedly suffered a brain hemorrhage, fallen into a coma and been taken to China for treatment.
One of those spreading the claims was Chinese opposition activist Xie Wanjun, who runs the account @xie_wanjun. According to The Economic Times, he claimed that Kim had died after doctors failed to save him and that the announcement of his death was being withheld. He also claimed that power had passed to the North Korean leader’s sister, Kim Yo Jong, and that Chinese troops had been sent to Pyongyang. The newspaper provided no confirmation of these claims and specifically noted that they were unverified.
The British tabloid The Sun also reported allegations that Kim was in a coma and receiving treatment in Beijing, describing the reports in its headline as unconfirmed sensational rumors.
KCNA’s report on Kim’s visit to the exhibition made no mention of the rumors about his health and did not directly address them.