A rumor claiming North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has died spread rapidly across social media over the weekend, racking up millions of views. There is no evidence behind it.

The claims began circulating Saturday and allege that Kim suffered a severe cerebral hemorrhage, was moved to a hospital in Beijing, and died, with his body secretly returned to North Korea. A related claim alleged that China sent 9,000 troops to Pyongyang and raised its military alert level.

The claims appear to trace back to a single social media account known for posting a steady stream of unverified rumors. No credible source has confirmed any part of the story, and multiple fact-checks have rated it false. A “1984-2026” memorial image circulating with the posts also appears to be fabricated. One of the most widely shared posts, viewed more than five million times, carries a Community Note pointing to state media reports of Kim’s recent public appearances.

North Korean state media has shown no sign of anything amiss. State outlets released photos as recently as October 13 showing Kim at the opening of a new defense museum, and days earlier he attended a performance marking the 81st anniversary of the Workers’ Party of Korea. Both appearances were with his wife, Ri Sol Ju, and daughter, Kim Ju Ae.

South Korea’s National Intelligence Service told lawmakers on September 30 that it had detected no notable issues with Kim’s health.

Some posts sharing the rumor included a screenshot claiming that TMZ had reported Kim’s death. That image is recycled from April 2020, when an almost identical rumor declared Kim dead before he reappeared in public weeks later.

Photo: Kremlin.ru via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0).