WorldSPECIAL REPORT
North Korea releases photos of Kim Jong Un after rumors
State media published the images Monday, showing Kim examining children's footwear; outsiders will now watch for any further public appearances to judge his health.
On air: Chip Darnell and Hank Ledger on BBN TonightPublished
Photo: Clay Gilliland · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN, shared under CC BY-SA 2.0Watch it as it aired: Chip Darnell and Hank Ledger on this story, from BBN Tonight at 9:16 PM ET. Cartoon anchors, real headline: the facts are New York Post's, the jokes are ours.
At a glance
- First reported by New York Post: “North Korea releases ‘proof of life’ photos of Kim Jong Un after wild rumors dictator died from brain hemorrhage”.
- Covered on BBN on Monday, October 19, 2026, at 9:16 PM ET on BBN Tonight, by Chip Darnell and Hank Ledger.
- Topics: Kim Jong Un, North Korea.
- BBN covered this story before: Photos show luxury boat with 50m pool and water slides near Kim Jong… (October 17).
The real story
The reporting behind this segment. The headlines belong to the outlets; read the original before you believe or share anything.
What BBN said about it
Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorYou're watching BBN, and this is a special report.
Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorNorth Korean state media published new photos of Kim Jong Un on Monday, after wild rumors that he had died from a brain hemorrhage.
Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorThe New York Post reports the images show a seemingly animated Kim examining children's footwear, and the pictures are being treated as proof of life.
Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorThe rumors spread for days, and there has been no independent confirmation of anything about his health.
Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorState media has not addressed the brain hemorrhage claim directly.
Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorWhat to watch next is whether he appears in new images or at public events in the coming days, since that is how outsiders usually judge his health.
More Shorts
All videos →
Photo: Architect of the Capitol · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN
Photo: igorovsyannykov · CC0 · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN
Photo: Daniel Torok · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN
Photo: Britchi Mirela · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN, shared under CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: B.alotaby · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0
The story so far
- Trump names November Asia trip as possible Kim meeting · The Washington Times
- New Yalu River Bridge to open Thursday, Xinhua says · Al Jazeera
- North Korea and China Open Their Biggest Border Bridge · The New York Times
- China opens long-delayed bridge to North Korea · Breitbart
- Photos show luxury boat with 50m pool and water slides near Kim Jong… · BBC
- North Korea releases photos of Kim Jong Un after rumors (this story)
From the archive: everything BBN aired on Monday, October 19, 2026 · the World archive · all months
More in World
All World →
Morocco's first female prime minister faces king, clerics, feminists
Fatima El Mansouri's Authenticity and Modernity Party won ninety-seven of three hundred ninety-five seats, so she must build a coalition to govern…
King Charles pays Andrew's Royal Lodge bill; Boone stays; Giants QB
The one point five million pound bill covers repairs at Royal Lodge, where Andrew lived until February 2026 and said he could not afford the…
Japan, U.S. kick off joint drills around islands as regional…
Seven other nations are joining parts of the exercise, five of them for the first time, as Japan's military chief denies it targets any country.
Canadian skateboarder sets new world record for speeding down hill
Spain's Diego Poncelet reached 151.83 kilometres an hour on a closed Quebec road, beating a 2017 mark set there; he waited five days for calm wind.