Overview
- North Korean outlets on December 26 reported the death of Kim Chang-song, a State Affairs Commission department head who served as Kim Jong Un’s secretary.
- The coverage said Kim Jong Un expressed mourning and laid flowers on December 25.
- Officials provided no information on the cause or circumstances of Kim Chang-song’s death.
- The announcement was relayed internationally by Kyodo’s Beijing dispatch and republished by Japanese outlets including Nishinippon Shimbun and Hokkaido Shimbun.
- Independent verification has not been provided, and no announcements on funeral arrangements or a successor have been reported.