Kim Jong Un appears in China days after death rumors

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un made a surprise visit Saturday to the Chinese border city of Dandong, days after social media rumors claimed his health had deteriorated severely or that he had died. According to international media reports, Kim was received by Wang Huning, one of the most senior figures in China's leadership.

The visit came without a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Instead, Kim met with Wang, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and considered the fourth-ranking official in China. Wang conveyed President Xi's greetings to Kim, and both sides expressed a desire to deepen cooperation between the two countries.

Kim Jong Un made a surprise appearance in China / Photo: social media (Kim Jong Un made a surprise appearance in China / Photo: social media)

During the visit, Kim crossed the new Yalu River Bridge connecting North Korea to Dandong. The bridge, nearly three kilometers long, opened to traffic this month after years of delay, though construction was completed in 2014. Its opening is expected to facilitate the transfer of goods, raw materials and equipment between the countries and strengthen trade ties.

He also visited a memorial honoring Chinese soldiers killed in the Korean War from 1950 to 1953, when China fought alongside North Korea against South Korea and UN forces. The visit took place on the eve of the anniversary of Chinese forces entering the war, and was intended to emphasize the historical ties between the two nations.

He later toured a vehicle manufacturing plant in the city, accompanied by Wang and other senior officials. During the meetings, he emphasized the importance of friendship between the countries and Pyongyang's desire to expand practical cooperation with Beijing.

China is North Korea's main trading partner and a vital source of economic and diplomatic support for Kim's regime. In recent years, North Korea has also deepened its military ties with Russia, and efforts are now visible to strengthen relations with Beijing once again.

He returned to North Korea after the one-day visit, with Wang accompanying him back to the bridge. The visit was his first trip to China since September 2025, when he met with Xi Jinping in Beijing.

In the days before the visit, rumors circulated on social media claiming Kim had suffered a severe brain hemorrhage and had even died. South Korea's intelligence service told lawmakers that assessments of his death were incorrect. North Korean state media had already reported his appearance at a public event in Pyongyang, and now his visit to China provides additional documentation of his activity.