Problem is the media were feeding wish fulfillment - a lot of people on here want to see him dead and N Korea a democracy (and see the
China's expansionist strategy thread for some really unhinged prejudices about things Asian)
The media published the stories because they knew people would like to hear it - and it cost them nothing - straight cut 'n paste job from your lock down PC - and no chance of a complaint to whatever media watchdog where they publish.