*Rumour* Kim Jong Un Assassinated?

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There are rumours flying around Weibo (China's safe Twitter) that Kim Jong Un was sleeping at the North Korean Embassy in Beijing when at around 2 AM a gunman stormed into his bedroom and popped him. As proof, there are grainy pictures of luxury limos parked outside the embassy, which didn't happen even when Kim Jong Il died. These are just rumours, but since they're being spread like wildfire eventually the Chinese government will have to comment on them.

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Traditional custom in Chinese-influenced dynasties was for the throne to pass to the next generation no matter what, right?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kim_Han-sol would be the only one so far that we're aware of...

But it's also a traditional Chinese custom for ministers and generals to engage in turf wars if the Emperor is too weak - which seems to be the case both for Kim 3 and possibly Kim 4.

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*MORE RUMOURS*: North Korean media hasn't broadcast any propaganda about Kim Jong Un for four days, and previously unknown Senior Colonel Pak Deok Maeng has taken over the KCTV building. There were supposed to be big celebrations on February 16, Kim Jong Il's birthday, but no news has been made about that. Rumour has it that the top Party leadership have scattered in panic.

There are more rumours that Pak has announced/will announce free elections within two years and reunification, and that the Kims have fled to Venezuela.

Very bizarre, and the longer it takes for China and North Korean to deny them, the more credible they seem.

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*MORE RUMOURS*: North Korean media hasn't broadcast any propaganda about Kim Jong Un for four days, and previously unknown Senior Colonel Pak Deok Maeng has taken over the KCTV building. There were supposed to be big celebrations on February 16, Kim Jong Il's birthday, but no news has been made about that. Rumour has it that the top Party leadership have scattered in panic.

There are more rumours that Pak has announced/will announce free elections within two years and reunification, and that the Kims have fled to Venezuela.

Very bizarre, and the longer it takes for China and North Korean to deny them, the more credible they seem.

Wow. Where are you getting this?

Believe me, nothing beats the Chinese rumour mill.

In all seriousness, it's telling that the Chinese censors haven't moved swiftly to shut down these discussions, which they're usually eager to do. We'll see if, and how, an official denial is made. Most probably the denial will come when a new photo of Kim Jong Un looking at something is released.