North Korea Denies Rumors That Kim Jong-un Is in a Coma
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is not in a coma and has not been transferred to China for medical treatment, according to an official denial issued on Monday by Alejandro Cao de Benós, who serves as the special delegate for the Committee for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries for North Korea, as reported by tn.com.ar.
The denial directly addresses unverified claims circulating on social media platform X and reports from foreign outlets. Speculation intensified after Chinese social media accounts published claims regarding the leader’s health. The British tabloid newspaper The Sun subsequently reported that Kim was in a coma following a cerebral hemorrhage and had been rushed to China for care.
Denial of Medical Emergency Rumors
Alejandro Cao de Benós dismissed the reports as completely false when contacted by journalists on Monday. He stated that the rumors originated entirely from a Chinese account on X. State media within North Korea made no mention of any health incidents, maintaining standard operational routines.
Similar rumors regarding Kim Jong-un’s health have surfaced during past periods when the North Korean leader reduced his public appearances. Chinese government authorities reported no emergency hospital admissions in Beijing matching the reports.
Kim Yo Jong Warns of Grave Border Situation
Concurrently, North Korean officials addressed escalating security conditions along the southern border. Kim Yo Jong, the sister of the North Korean leader, released a statement on Monday declaring that a grave situation prevails near the border with South Korea.
State media indicated that North Korea is examining the potential deployment of additional tactical attack assets along the southern border to handle contingencies. These developments follow a pattern of rising friction that included the cross-border launch of trash-filled balloons by the North in 2024 and the subsequent resumption of loudspeaker broadcasts featuring K-pop music and international news by South Korea.