Crying wolf on national security

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un made an unexpected visit to the Chinese border city of Dandong, following rumors suggesting he had passed away due to a severe brain hemorrhage. Unlike in 2020, when such claims caused international alarm, mainstream media outlets were more skeptical this time around. This cautious approach was likely influenced by the media's infamous mishandling of rumors about Kim's death six years prior.

Back then, some outlets reported the North Korean defector's claim that they were "99 percent certain" the leader had died. However, just days later, Kim Jong-un was seen in public, debunking those reports and significantly damaging public trust in the media. The 2020 incident served as a wake-up call for news organizations, highlighting the critical importance of evidence-based journalism.

Since then, journalists have doubled and triple-checked their sources and assessed their credibility before publishing any unverified claims. While media outlets were cautious about the latest rumors surrounding Kim Jong-un's health, the public remained unaware of the cautionary tale that had unfolded just a year earlier.