By DAYO ADESULU
US President Donald Trump has expressed uncertainty about meeting North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in China next month, as unverified reports of the leader’s alleged death continue to circulate online. However, North Korean state media has published photographs showing Kim attending a public exhibition in Pyongyang.
US President Donald Trump has cast doubt on the possibility of meeting North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during his planned visit to China next month, amid widespread speculation about the North Korean leader’s health.
Trump made the remarks on Monday, October 19, while responding to reporters’ questions at the White House about the possibility of a face-to-face meeting with Kim during the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Shenzhen, China.
Asked whether he expected to meet the North Korean leader, Trump responded cautiously.
“Oh, I don’t know. I don’t know,” the US president said, adding, “I’m not sure that anybody’s asking for a meeting.”
Despite lowering expectations for a possible summit, Trump maintained that he enjoyed a good personal relationship with the North Korean leader.
“I get along with him very well,” Trump said. “But my relationship with Kim Jong Un is very good.”
His comments mark a shift in tone from earlier statements suggesting that a meeting could take place during his Asian trip.
Kim Jong Un Death Rumours Remain Unverified
Trump’s remarks come as claims about Kim’s alleged death spread across social media platforms.
The rumours intensified after Wanjun Xie, identified in media reports as chairman of the China Democracy Party, claimed that Kim had suffered a severe brain haemorrhage and fallen into a coma.
According to the allegations, Chinese medical specialists were dispatched to North Korea to treat the leader. Xie further claimed that Kim was transferred to Beijing for emergency treatment but subsequently died.
He also alleged that Kim’s body had been secretly returned to North Korea and that authorities were concealing his death.
However, these claims have not been independently verified, and no credible, independently confirmed evidence establishes that Kim Jong Un has died.
The allegations have generated international attention because of North Korea’s highly secretive political system and the uncertainty that could surround any sudden leadership transition.
Xie also alleged that Chinese military personnel had been deployed to Pyongyang amid concerns about possible instability. Those claims, too, remain unverified.
Neither the alleged death nor the reported military deployment should be treated as established fact.
North Korean State Media Releases Photographs of Kim
In developments reported on October 20, North Korea’s state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) published photographs purporting to show Kim Jong Un visiting a clothing and footwear exhibition in Pyongyang on Monday, October 19.
The photographs reportedly showed Kim inspecting products, including children’s shoes and women’s winter clothing.
His appearance followed the spread of online rumours claiming that he had suffered a medical emergency.
The photographs provide a significant counterpoint to the death rumours because North Korean state media continues to report activities attributed to the leader.
Nevertheless, the images have not been independently verified by journalists at the event. Their publication does not provide an independent medical assessment of Kim’s health.
North Korea has a long-standing reputation for tightly controlling information about its leadership. Consequently, reports about Kim’s condition require careful examination and independent corroboration.
For now, the available evidence does not justify reporting his death as a confirmed development.
Trump and Kim’s History of Personal Diplomacy
Trump’s relationship with Kim Jong Un has been an unusual feature of US foreign policy.
During his first presidential term, Trump met Kim three times in an effort to address North Korea’s nuclear weapons programme and improve relations between Washington and Pyongyang.
Their first summit took place in Singapore in June 2018. A second meeting followed in Hanoi, Vietnam, in February 2019.
The two leaders met again in June 2019 at Panmunjom, near the border separating North and South Korea.
Although the meetings generated international attention and raised hopes for a diplomatic breakthrough, they did not produce a comprehensive agreement that eliminated North Korea’s nuclear weapons programme.
Trump has subsequently signalled interest in reopening direct engagement with Kim.
Earlier in October, he suggested that a meeting during his forthcoming Asian trip was possible. However, his latest comments indicate that the prospect remains uncertain.
North Korea has not publicly confirmed that Kim intends to meet Trump during the upcoming APEC summit.
What Happens Next?
The APEC leaders’ meeting is scheduled for November 18–19, 2026, in Shenzhen, China.
Trump is expected to attend the summit, creating an opportunity for diplomatic discussions with regional and international leaders.
However, no confirmed arrangement for a Trump-Kim meeting has emerged from the latest public statements.
The US president’s comments also leave unanswered whether North Korea would be willing to resume negotiations over its nuclear programme.
A meeting, if arranged, could revive discussions on nuclear security, sanctions and relations between Washington and Pyongyang. Nevertheless, any diplomatic breakthrough would depend on both governments agreeing on the purpose and terms of the talks.
Meanwhile, the rumours surrounding Kim’s health are likely to attract further attention until more reliable information becomes available.
For now, the distinction between speculation and verified reporting remains essential.
Why This Matters
North Korea’s leadership plays a central role in regional security because the country possesses nuclear weapons and maintains a confrontational relationship with the United States and South Korea.
Any genuine leadership crisis could raise questions about political succession, military command and the future of negotiations over the country’s nuclear programme.
However, unverified reports of Kim’s death could also fuel unnecessary speculation and misinformation.
The release of photographs by North Korean state media offers a reported account of Kim’s recent public activities, but independent confirmation remains limited.
For international observers, the immediate priorities are to establish the facts, monitor official statements and avoid treating unsubstantiated claims as confirmed news.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Has Kim Jong Un died?
There is no independently verified confirmation that Kim Jong Un has died. Reports claiming that he suffered a brain haemorrhage and died remain unverified.
2. What did Donald Trump say about meeting Kim Jong Un?
Trump said he was unsure whether a meeting would take place in China next month. He also stated that his personal relationship with Kim remained very good.
3. Has North Korea released photographs of Kim Jong Un?
Yes. North Korea’s state media published photographs reportedly showing Kim visiting a clothing and footwear exhibition in Pyongyang on October 19, 2026. The event has not been independently verified by journalists at the scene.
4. When could Trump meet Kim Jong Un?
The possibility has been discussed in connection with the APEC summit scheduled for November 18–19, 2026, in Shenzhen, China. However, no meeting has been confirmed.
5. Why are reports about Kim Jong Un’s health attracting attention?
Kim leads a nuclear-armed country with limited transparency surrounding its political leadership. A genuine leadership crisis could have significant implications for regional security and international diplomacy.
Conclusion
Donald Trump’s latest comments have weakened expectations of an imminent meeting with Kim Jong Un during next month’s APEC summit in China.
At the same time, unverified death rumours have placed North Korea’s leader at the centre of international attention. North Korean state media has since published photographs reportedly showing him attending a public exhibition, although independent verification remains limited.
Until reliable evidence establishes otherwise, claims that Kim Jong Un has died should be treated as unconfirmed.
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