North Korea releases proof of life photos of Kim Jong Un after wild rumors dictator died from brain hemorrhage

North Korea has released a fresh batch of apparent “proof of life” photos showing Kim Jong Un inspecting shoes and women’s clothing — after wild rumors swept social media claiming the dictator had died from a brain hemorrhage.The images, published by North Korean state media on Monday, show a seemingly animated Kim examining children’s footwear, gesturing toward officials and inspecting women’s coats at a garment and footwear exhibition.The photos surfaced just hours after sensational claims circulated online that the 42-year-old leader had suffered a massive brain hemorrhage, fallen into a coma and died after being rushed to Beijing for emergency treatment.North Korea’s official Korean Central News Agency reported that Kim toured the exhibition on Monday, although the photographs have not been independently authenticated and it remains unclear exactly when they were taken.In one image, Kim bends forward to inspect a tiny pink shoe held by a young woman wearing a pale pink, double-breasted dress.Another shows the North Korean strongman standing with his legs apart, his arms outstretched and his mouth open as he appears to speak emphatically with an official.A third captures Kim reaching toward the sleeve of a rust-colored women’s coat displayed on a mannequin, while several aides trail behind him.The apparent public appearance comes after Wanjun Xie, a US-based Chinese dissident associated with the China Democracy Party, posted a series of explosive allegations on X on Sunday.Xie initially claimed that Kim had died and that China had dispatched 9,000 troops to Pyongyang amid fears of a succession crisis.He subsequently alleged that a team of specialists from Beijing’s Peking Union Medical College Hospital had been sent to North Korea on Saturday to treat Kim following a severe cerebral hemorrhage.According to Xie’s unsubstantiated account, the North Korean leader slipped into a coma before being transferred to Beijing, where doctors were unable t...