Kim Jong-un’s security detail meticulously wiped down the North Korean leader’s chair and table immediately after his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Beijing on September 3, 2025. The intense cleaning, captured on video, has sparked global curiosity about the secretive measures North Korea takes to protect its leader. The incident occurred at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse, where Kim and Putin held talks during a major event marking the 80th anniversary of Japan’s World War II surrender. After the leaders discussed strengthening ties, including a 2024 mutual defense pact, Kim’s team sprang into action.
A male security officer vigorously polished the chair’s backrest, armrests, and upholstery, while a female staff member swiftly removed Kim’s drinking glass on a tray. Every surface Kim touched was thoroughly cleaned, suggesting a deliberate effort to erase any trace of his presence. This forensic-level cleaning is believed to be a safeguard against the collection of Kim’s DNA, which could reveal sensitive health information about the North Korean leader. Such details are critical to the regime’s stability, and experts suggest Kim’s team distrusts even allies like Russia and China, fearing surveillance or intelligence gathering.
The video, first shared on a Russian journalist’s Telegram channel, quickly spread across social media, with users noting the paranoia reflected in the act. One post described it as a vivid example of “what dictatorship really looks like.” This is not the first time Kim’s security has taken such extreme measures. In 2023, during a summit in Russia, North Korean staff similarly disinfected Kim’s chair for several minutes. The actions of Kim Jong-un’s security team highlight the leader’s concerns.
Kim also travels with a private toilet on his armored train to prevent biological material collection, a practice mirrored by Putin, whose team reportedly collects his waste during foreign trips to block health intelligence. The Beijing meeting, Kim’s first trip to China since the COVID-19 pandemic, underscored the growing alliance between North Korea and Russia. Kim pledged to send more troops to support Russia’s war in Ukraine, where an estimated 13,000 North Korean soldiers are already deployed. The cleaning incident, however, stole the spotlight, highlighting the extraordinary lengths to which Kim’s regime goes to protect its leader’s privacy.
