North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un is alive and well after rumours claimed he had fallen into a coma after a ‘brain haemorrhage’.
Social media was set alight with claims that he was taken to a Chinese hospital for treatment, having last been seen in public on October 11.
New photos released today, however, show Kim and his daughter Kim Ju-Ae looking at a clothing and footwear exhibition in Pyongyang.
Rumours have spread in the past about Kim’s health, namely his weight. In 2020, reports claimed he was in a coma as well.
At the time, it was revealed that his power would be transferred to Kim’s sister, Kim Yo Jong.
Sign up for all of the latest stories
Start your day informed with Metro's News Updates newsletter or get Breaking News alerts the moment it happens.
The North Korean leader is currently 42 years old, but has faced health issues in the past from his heavy drinking and smoking.
His family has a history of heart issues, and the South Korean spy agency said that Kim has suffered from obesity-related problems like diabetes and high blood pressure.
If he were to pass away or become incapacitated, a brutal fight for power could unfold behind North Korean borders.
Kim appears to be in good health now, with no verification of the online rumours about his ‘brain haemorrhage’.
But if he were to die, it’s been suggested that he would transfer authority to his sister Kim Yo Jong – and reports have suggested she is already the nation’s second-in-command.
But last year, it was found that Kim chose his daughter, Kim Ju-ae, as his successor instead of his sister – which could lead to a bitter battle.
Until a few years ago, the young teenager was kept out of the public eye, but has recently been attending high-profile events with her dictator father.
It is reported that Kim Ju-ae is the middle child of three. She is believed to be around the age of 13 or 14, but her birthday isn’t known.
She was introduced as an infant to former NBA star Dennis Rodman during one of his visits to North Korea in early 2013.
Her first public appearance in Western media was in November 2022 when she was pictured accompanying her father during an inspection of the launch of the country’s largest ballistic missile, a Hwasong-17 intercontinental.
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
For more stories like this, check our news page.