Here’s everything we know as rumours circulate that Kim Jong-un ‘has died’

Unconfirmed rumours have spread around the world suggesting that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un may have died after suffering a brain haemorrhage.

Much of the speculation has spread on X, with prominent posts reportedly linked to Wanjun Xie, a former student activist and chairman of the Chinese Democracy Party.

Xie has been based in the United States since the late 1990s, having fled China following his involvement in the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests.

He has been among those suggesting that Kim may be dead, warning that such a development could raise fears of a potential civil war in North Korea.

In an X post Xie claimed: "It is rumoured that recently, Kim Jong-un, General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and Supreme Leader of North Korea, suffered a severe cerebral hemorrhage and fell into a coma.

"Although a team of medical experts from Peking Union Medical College Hospital was dispatched to North Korea to assist in his treatment, 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."

Later on Sunday, Xie said: "Rumours circulate that Kim Jong-un has died, thwarting Kim Ju-ae's succession plans and potentially plunging North Korea into civil war.

Kim Ju-ae is Kim Jong-un's daughter, and is widely considered by political analysts as Kim's likely preferred successor.

"The Chinese Communist Party has reportedly dispatched 9,000 troops to Pyongyang to assist Kim Ju-ae in stabilizing her regime."

Despite Xie’s claims gaining widespread attention, no official announcement has been made by the North Korean state, and major news outlets in the region have yet to substantiate the reports, casting further doubt on the rumours.

Xie’s post has also received a Community Note on X, the platform’s crowdsourced fact-checking feature, highlighting that the alleged health concerns have not been confirmed by established news organisations.

The community note adds: "Kim Jong-un has made recent public appearances including a Workers' Party anniversary event on Oct 10 and a defence museum opening days later."

A report by Yonhap News indicated that Kim Jong-un was seen in public as recently as October 11.

If the rumours surrounding his death were to prove true, the alleged incident would therefore have had to occur after that date.

For now, it remains simply a matter of time until these shock claims relating to Kim Jong-un's death are either confirmed or denied.