Kim Yo Jung, influential front line sister in North Korea

Seoul did not find “unusual signs” regarding Kim Jong-un’s health, South Korean government officials said today after CNN said the North Korean leader was “in serious danger after the operation.” Despite this, the very possibility of the death of the “supreme leader” caused concern about who would take the reins of power in the Pyongyang regime. In this scenario, everyone is looking at her younger sister, Kim Yo Jong, 32 years old.

Kim Yong Jong was born on September 26, 1987 and is the youngest daughter of Kim Jong Il in a relationship with Koh Yong Hui, according to the North Korean Leadership. In the spring of 1996, he joined his brothers in Bern, Switzerland. From this year until December 2000, he attended public school named after Libebelda-Steinholzli under the pseudonym “Pak mi Hyan”, not far from the place where Kim Jong-un studied, under the name “Kim Yong-san”.

It was during this period that his closeness with his brother began, according to North Korean expert Jungskik Bong. “They were practically in exile together, they both knew what awaited them in the future,” Bong told The Guardian. “They must have acquired a tremendous sense of shared destiny. As a result, she has the unconditional trust of her brother. “

Kim Yong Jung returned to North Korea at the end of 2000, completing the American equivalent of sixth grade. He studied computer science at Kim Il Sung University and studied other courses at West European University after his mother died in 2004. Reportedly, he married Cho Song, the second son of government official Cho Ryong Hae, in 2015. However, sources in South Korea have denied the veracity of these reports.

Back in 2002, Kim Jong Il proudly told foreign interlocutors that his youngest daughter is interested in politics and wants to make a career in the political system of North Korea. Yo Chen, who is believed to be four years younger than her brother, rarely appeared in public until 2010, when she was photographed at a party conference. The following year, she was a regular member of her father’s entourage, and she was seen how she cried after her death in late 2011.

Her political career began in 2014, when she was appointed deputy director of the department of propaganda and agitation of the Workers’ Party. In 2017, the United States condemned her for “serious human rights violations” and censorship in order to hide her “behavior.” inhuman and oppressive. “According to South Korean intelligence, a young woman often” abuses her power “and punishes employees in her department for” petty offenses. “

At the international level, Kim Yo Jong was a visible presence in the entire diplomatic process with Washington and Seoul on the Pyongyang nuclear program. “Recently, she was responsible for such important missions as, for example, a visit in February (2018) to South Korea, where she delivered important diplomatic messages, which at one time made it possible to hold an inter-Korean summit in Pan Panjom (in April 2018. .). like, ultimately, the Kim-trump summit in Singapore (in June 2018), ”said Andrei Lankov, Russian academician and director of Korea Risk Group.

It was after her stellar participation in the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang in South Korea that the world recognized her (a little) more. According to intelligence reports, he is the only one whom Kim Jong-un trusts. “She has direct access and a strong influence on Kim Jong-un,” said Leonid Petrov, a specialist in North Korea and a professor at the International College of Management in Sydney. “She is not connected with her military purges or trials, but she knows everything about them. She is a trusted political figure who helps Kim maintain a positive image in society when dealing with foreigners or South Koreans. ” Kim Yo Jong, director of the propaganda and agitation department of the Korean Labor Party.

Leif-Eric Isley, associate professor of international studies at Ewha University in Seoul, agrees. “Kim Jong-un seems to trust his sister (…) His most important role is probably his brother’s confidant,” The Guardian analyst said. “She has demonstrated the ability to upgrade the brand of the regime and has some influence on state propaganda.”

However, in recent months his public image has grown even more. This was after he insulted South Korea, which he called the “scared dog that barks” because of Seoul’s complaints about the launch of a North Korean rocket. Even stranger, he praised Donald Trump, who sent a letter to his brother. Bong told The Guardian that it was “indicative” that Kim Yo Jong was allowed to play a leading role in international diplomacy. “He is clearly ready to let his sister become his alter ego,” he said.

In fact, Kim Yo Chen was expelled from the Politburo last April, but was reinstated again this month, giving rise to speculation that she might take over if her older brother dies. In his last public speech, Kim Jong-un chaired a meeting of the Workers Party political bureau on April 11, which discussed preventive measures against coronavirus and the choice of his sister as an alternative member of the bureau.

However, Lankov warns that “it is unclear whether Kim Yong Jong can maintain his privileged position indefinitely. Her growth was driven by the same logic as Kim Jong-joo’s growth in the 1950s and Chan Song-taek’s growth in the 1990s and 2000s, but she will inevitably face the same problem as the designated future heir. ”

“Kim Jong-un reportedly has two or three children. They are all of preschool age, and it will probably be several decades before they become old enough to be considered fit for continuity, or at least fit for learning as potential successors. However, when this happens, and if it happens, Kim Yong Jong will face a great risk of being superfluous, ”Lankov concluded.