North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s aides were caught on camera meticulously wiping down every surface he touched following a high-profile meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Beijing on September 3, 2025. The extraordinary cleanup, captured in viral footage shared on Telegram by Russian journalist Alexander Yunashev, has sparked global intrigue and speculation about Kim’s paranoia over his biological security.
The incident occurred shortly after Kim and Putin concluded their talks, which took place on the sidelines of a grand military parade marking the 80th anniversary of Japan’s surrender in World War II. The video shows North Korean staff scrubbing the chair Kim sat in, polishing its backrest and armrests, and wiping down a nearby side table. A female aide carefully removed Kim’s drinking glass on a tray, ensuring no trace of his presence remained. “After the negotiations, the staff accompanying the head of the DPRK carefully destroyed all traces of Kim’s presence,” Yunashev reported on his channel, Yunashev Live.
Analysts are puzzled by the forensic-level precautions, with some suggesting Kim’s actions reflect deep mistrust of Russia’s intelligence agencies or China’s advanced surveillance capabilities. The measures may be driven by fears that his DNA could reveal sensitive health information or be used against him. Interestingly, Kim is not alone in such extreme biosecurity practices. Reports indicate that Putin employs similar measures, with Russian security operatives allegedly collecting his urine and fecal matter in sealed bags during foreign trips since 2017, including during a meeting with former U.S. President Donald Trump in Alaska.
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Despite the odd cleanup, the Beijing meeting was described as highly successful. Kim pledged unwavering support to Moscow, stating, “If there is anything I can or must do for you and the Russian people, I consider it my duty as a fraternal obligation.” Putin, addressing Kim as “Dear Chairman of State Affairs,” expressed gratitude for North Korea’s military support in Ukraine, where an estimated 13,000 North Korean troops have been deployed, with nearly 2,000 reportedly killed. The leaders, bound by a 2024 mutual defense pact, appeared to strengthen their alliance, united in their defiance of Western sanctions.
Kim’s visit to Beijing, his first to China since the COVID-19 pandemic, was a significant diplomatic moment. Flanked by Chinese President Xi Jinping and Putin during the military parade, Kim also mingled with over two dozen world leaders, showcasing North Korea’s growing geopolitical clout. The parade, a display of China’s military might, underscored the strengthening ties among the three nations, prompting concerns from former U.S. President Donald Trump, who claimed on Truth Social that they were “working together against the United States.”
As the footage of Kim’s DNA cleanup continues to circulate, it raises questions about the lengths authoritarian leaders go to protect their privacy and the potential geopolitical implications of their alliances. The incident, while bizarre, highlights the intense secrecy and mistrust that define such high-stakes diplomatic engagements.
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