Who Will Replace Kim Jong Un When He Dies? North Korea’s Next Ruler Could Be ‘Worse Than Him’
Unverified rumors claiming North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has died have raised questions about who could lead the nuclear-armed country if he were suddenly unable to govern. Social media claims alleged that Kim suffered a brain hemorrhage, fell into a coma, and died after receiving treatment in Beijing.
However, there is no verified evidence that Kim has died. North Korean state media reported that he visited a garment and footwear exhibition in Pyongyang on Oct. 19, accompanied by Ju Ae. Photographs released on Oct. 20 showed him at the event. South Korean officials said they had received no information supporting the death claims.
However, the speculation has drawn attention to his daughter, Kim Ju Ae, and younger sister, Kim Yo Jong, as questions about North Korea’s eventual succession resurface.
What Sparked the Kim Jong Un Death Rumors?
The claims reportedly originated from social media posts by Wanjun Xie, a Chinese dissident based in the United States.
Xie alleged that Kim suffered a severe brain hemorrhage, was transferred to Peking Union Medical College Hospital in Beijing, and subsequently died. He also claimed that Kim’s body had been secretly returned to North Korea.
No evidence was provided to substantiate the allegations. Xie has previously circulated other unverified claims about prominent political figures, according to Yonhap News Agency. The rumors also prompted speculation about a possible power struggle and alleged Chinese troop deployments. Those claims have not been independently verified.
Kim Yo Jong Remains an Influential Political Figure
Kim Yo Jong has held senior positions within North Korea’s ruling Workers’ Party and become a prominent public voice for the regime, particularly in its dealings with South Korea and the United States.
Her political experience and connections could make her influential if Kim Jong Un became unable to govern. However, her position does not establish that she would succeed her brother, and there is no verified evidence that she has assumed power.
Any leadership transition would depend on the support of senior party officials, military leaders, and other powerful figures within the regime.
Kim Ju Ae Emerges as a Leading Successor Candidate
Kim Ju Ae, believed to be around 13, has increasingly appeared alongside her father at major state and military events. She made her public debut at an intercontinental ballistic missile launch in November 2022.
In April 2026, South Korea’s National Intelligence Service assessed that Ju Ae was being positioned as her father’s successor, according to lawmakers briefed by the agency. In September, the agency reportedly said her position as the designated successor was strengthening.
North Korean state media has not officially named her as heir. Her young age also raises questions about how she could exercise authority independently if her father suddenly became unable to govern.
Who Would Replace Kim Jong Un if He Died?
North Korea has no publicly confirmed succession arrangement guaranteeing that Ju Ae or Yo Jong would automatically take power. Ju Ae is the leading successor candidate identified by South Korean intelligence, while Yo Jong remains an influential political figure whose role in a future transition is uncertain.
A sudden leadership change could place the ruling party and military at the center of decisions about who would exercise authority. However, there is no evidence that a succession struggle has begun.
For now, reports of Kim’s appearance at the exhibition contradict claims that he has died. The rumors have renewed interest in North Korea’s succession question, but they do not establish that Kim is dead, that his sister has taken control, or that a leadership transition is underway.
