Suspicious: Kim Jong Un Received a COVID-19 Vaccine
The Claim
Kim Jong Un became the first world leader to get the COVID-19 vaccine.
News posted on
Emerging story
In December 2020, two officials claimed that the North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and his family have been vaccinated for coronavirus.
Norbert Elekes, a data reporter tweeted that Kim Jong Un became the first world leader to get the COVID-19 vaccine.
As the claim started circulating, users on social media started debating that Kim Jong Un wasn't the first leader to get the vaccine. Users replied to the claim with the Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates tweet of him taking the vaccine.
Others claimed that such action is evidence that Kim Jong Un is having a closer relationship with China.
Misbar’s Analysis
Misbar's investigation found the circulating claim suspicious. The news circulating has been internationally reported on international news agencies, but the source is anonymous. Names have not been mentioned which makes it unclear if the circulating claim is true.
Harry Kazianis, a North Korea expert wrote the article without giving any official sources that can confirm the circulating claim. The Kims were vaccinated “within the last two to three weeks thanks to a vaccine candidate supplied by the Chinese government,” he wrote in an article for the online outlet 19FortyFive.
Kazianis added that it’s unclear which Chinese company provided its COVID-19 vaccine candidate or if it was proven to be safe.
Misbar's team can't deny or confirm as there has been no evidence to support the claim circulating.
