North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is once again rumoured to be dead.
Prominent Chinese claimed he was dead
Vice director of Hong Kong Satellite Television (HKSTV) Qin Feng took to Weibo on Friday night, April 24, and posted emojis of two lighted candles -- a Chinese symbol for a burial.
Her post was taken by Chinese Weibo users to suggest that Kim was dead, and attracted considerable attention as she is related to a prominent family in China.
Qin is the niece of former Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing and the granddaughter of Qin Lizhen, a diplomat who served as China's ambassador to Norway and New Zealand in the past.
Her post was subsequently taken down.
Qin then posted a new post, saying she was not the one who took down her previous post.
She even jokingly wrote: "Perhaps your comments were so lit the higher-ups thought it best to consider the larger picture hahahaha. Hope everyone has a great weekend."
Screengrab via Qin Feng/Weibo
In a reply to her Weibo post, she further claimed that she was speaking the truth.
She said: "Some people prefer to wait for the official announcement, please, go ahead. But I only speak the truth."
She continued: "Kim Il Sung's death was announced 34 hours later, while the announcement of Kim Jong Il's death was delayed by 51 hours, let's see how many hours the announcement this time will be delayed."
"Oh, doctor Li Wenliang underwent a really long emergency treatment that night... (suggesting authorities delayed announcing his death) I never post fake news."
"Also, whether he's alive or not, China's relations with North Korea will always be long-lasting.
"There can be different sources for news, and different levels of analysis. Fellow industry colleagues, just stop trying to argue with me."
Qin's Weibo post came after American sources claim that Kim was seen walking at the port city of Wonsan in North Korea.
China sent medical team to North Korea
According to a Reuters report published on Saturday, April 25, China has sent a team of doctors and officials to North Korea on Thursday, April 23, to advise on Kim, citing three people "familiar with the situation".
However, Reuters was unable to immediately verify the significance of the trip in relation to Kim's health.
Kim also rumoured to be in vegetative state
Japanese weekly magazine Shūkan Gendai (Modern Weekly) also reported on Friday, April 24, that Kim is now in a vegetative state, citing a Chinese medical staff.
Kim 's conspicuous public absence
Rumours of Kim’s illness first appeared following his absence at the anniversary honouring the birth of the country’s founder and his grandfather, Kim Il Sung on April 15.
Kim was then rumoured to be down with a “grave” illness following a heart surgery.
South Korean media Yonhap News Agency subsequently dispelled the rumour, saying that no unusual activity has been spotted in North Korea regarding Kim’s health.
U.S. President Donald Trump, in response also said on Thursday, April 23, that reports of Kim’s death were incorrect.
Public fascinated by rumours of Kim’s death
Rumours surrounding Kim’s health were widely reported and speculated about for the past week, partly due to a general fascination with the isolated country, and partly because his death might lead to regime instability, resulting in even greater geopolitical uncertainties in East Asia.
While much about the country remains unknown, Kim is at least a known certainty to the outside world.
This is not the first time that rumours about the closed-off nation have made its rounds, including those that speculate on the North Korean leader’s health.
Kim has even been speculated to have executed his uncle by letting 120 wild dogs attack and devour him.
But that event was not exactly confirmed to have happened.
Top image by Andrey Rudakov/Bloomberg via Getty Images