Following a flurry of reports from Hong Kong and Japanese media outlets declaring the death of Kim Jong Un, South Korean officials said the North Korean communist dictator is “alive and well.”
Rumors about Kim’s death began after he missed the April 15 celebration of his grandfather’s birthday, which is a national holiday in the isolated and impoverished state. The event commemorates Kim Il Sung, who is the founder of North Korea, and according to The Associated Press, the younger Kim hasn’t missed his grandfather’s birthday celebration since he took over control of the communist country from his father in 2011.
