North Korea publishes photos of Kim Jong Un - why do rumours of his death keep coming back?

There would probably be signs beyond North Korea's borders if there were a sudden collapse in Kim's health.China could tighten security along its frontier to prepare for potential instability or refugee flows. Activity around North Korean diplomatic missions might also increase. Defectors in South Korea often receive information through informal networks along the Chinese border. None of this has happened. South Korean intelligence officials, meanwhile, told Yonhap they had heard nothing to support the reports.The rumour also echoes previous false alarms.In 2020, a high-profile North Korean defector claimed he was "99% certain" Kim had died following cardiovascular surgery. Not long afterwards, Kim appeared in public and the claim unravelled.So why do these rumours keep resurfacing? The first reason is succession.North Korea has been ruled by the Kim family for three generations, but what happens after Kim Jong Un remains less certain than it was for his predecessors.Kim Il Sung spent decades preparing his son, Kim Jong Il, for power. By the time Kim Il Sung died in 1994, the succession plan was firmly established. Kim Jong Il's transition was relatively smooth.Kim Jong Un's rise w...