North Korea has issued 'proof of life' images of dictator Kim Jong Un following rumours he had died of a brain haemorrhage.
The photographs, released yesterday, appear to show the North Korean leader, 42, and his 13-year-old daughter Kim Ju Ae inspecting a clothing and footwear exhibition hall in the capital Pyongyang.
It comes after Chinese dissident Xie Wanjun claimed, without evidence, that the General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea had suffered 'a severe cerebral haemorrhage and fell into a coma'.
Mr Wanjun, the US-based chairman of the China Democracy Party, claimed that Kim was taken to a Beijing hospital, where he died.
He wrote on X yesterday: 'His body has been secretly transported back to North Korea, and the news of his death is being kept under wraps.'
North Korea’s state news agency then released images of the autocrat and his daughter at the clothing exhibition. It claimed the pictures were taken yesterday but this has not been independently verified.
In one photo, Kim was seen inspecting a pink shoe as officials watched on.
Another showed him looking at several rolls of fabric as an official spoke to him.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, centre, and his daughter Kim Ju Ae inspecting a clothing and footwear exhibition hall in Pyongyang
In one photo, the dictator was seen inspecting a pink shoe as officials watched on
And in a third picture, he was seen feeling the fabric of a woman's coat that was draped over a mannequin as aides followed behind him.
South Korean diplomats and spies are said to have heard 'nothing' to support the claims of Kim's death.
Mr Wanjun also shared rumours, without evidence, that Chinese president Xi Jinping had suffered a stroke last month.
During the Chinese leader's visit to the US last month he was seen tightly clutching his wife's hand as he got off his plane, as if needing extra support on the stairs.
Mr Wanjun claimed at the time: 'Xi Jinping's symptoms clearly indicate the aftereffects of a stroke.'
The health of the North Korean dictator has long been the subject of speculation.
In September, South Korea's spy agency claimed he was 'extremely obese' and at risk of heart disease after packing on weight.
Kim’s heavy smoking and chronic obesity continue to raise international questions about who would succeed him as Supreme Leader of the nuclear-armed state if he were to die suddenly.
Citing the South Korean National Intelligence Service, Seoul politician Youn Kun-young said the dictator's 'health condition is classified as extremely obese' and claimed that he weighs more than 310lb.
While he is at 'high risk of cardiovascular disease', Kim has shown no difficulty with physical activity, including running up stairs, Youn added.
He continued: 'It is assessed that there are no signs of health issues, given the close monitoring by (his) 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 20 days, fuelling rumours that he was seriously ill after surgery.
Kim's father Kim Jong Il and grandfather Kim Il Sun were also obese and heavy smokers. Both died of heart attacks.
Kim and his daughter were seen inspecting rolls of fabric as they toured around the building
Kim is shown around the new National Defence Revolution Museum in North Korea
This is despite the fact that North Korea has struggled with repeated food shortages in the past, with the UN calling 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 has said the leader has a taste for luxury foods.
Paul Smart – who was the executive chef at Hanoi's Metropole hotel, where the summit was held – said in 2019: 'He likes caviar, lobster, really luxurious product. Foie gras, he really likes to indulge in cuisine.'
He added the steaks the North Koreans brought for the leader weren't dissimilar to highly coveted Japanese wagyu and were cooked rare.