Kim Yo Jong: A Woman at the Height of Power in North Korea’s Kim Dynasty

Kim Yo Jong, sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, delivers a speech during the national meeting against the coronavirus, in Pyongyang, North Korea, on Aug. 10, 2022. Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP

North Korea’s enigmatic Kim dynasty, a regime shrouded in mystery, has held power for three generations. Its leaders have been venerated as the “Sun of mankind” and the “Guardian of the Earth” through a carefully orchestrated system of indoctrination.

However, in this male-dominated regime, a woman is steadily gaining prominence, recognized by several national intelligence agencies as a possible successor to Kim Jong Un. This rising figure is none other than Kim Jong Un’s sister, Kim Yo Jong, who presently serves as the Deputy Department Director of the Publicity and Information Department of the Workers’ Party of Korea (WPK).

In May, when North Korea’s first “spy satellite” launch ended in failure, crashing like a child’s firecracker on the Korean Peninsula’s western coast, the UN Security Council convened an emergency meeting upon the request of the United States, Japan, and other countries to discuss the potential threats.

The Council suspected North Korea was developing an intercontinental missile capable of carrying nuclear warheads. In response, Kim Yo Jong vehemently denounced the United Nations Council, labeling it a “political vassal” of the United States. She further asserted her intention to proceed with a second, unexpected “spy satellite” launch. This marked Kim Yo Jong’s latest tough stance against the West, representing the North Korean Kim regime. Some international think tanks posit that Kim Yo Jong is effectively the Kim regime’s “second in command.”

Born in September 1988, Kim Yo Jong is four years younger than her brother Kim Jong Un. Both siblings were favorites of their father, Kim Jong-il. In 1996, at only eight years old, Kim Yo Jong and her brother attended an international school in Bern, Switzerland, under the guise of being children of the North Korean embassy staff. Here, they studied English, French, and German. School officials noted that Kim Yo Jong was under constant guard and received immediate medical attention, even for a mild cold. Following their education in Switzerland, Kim Yo Jong continued her studies under foreign tutors upon her return to North Korea in 2001.

North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un (L) and sister Kim Yo Jong attend the Inter-Korean Summit at the Peace House in Panmunjom, South Korea, on April 27, 2018. Korea Summit Press Pool/Getty Images

When Kim Jong Un assumed power in 2011, Kim Yo Jong gradually evolved into his political aide. By 2013, she was serving as his secretary; a year later, she transitioned to the Labor Party’s propaganda department, where she was tasked with safeguarding Kim Jong Un’s image and overseeing his public activities. By 2017, she ascended to the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea’s Political Bureau as a candidate member, entering the highest echelon of decision-making in North Korea.

Kim Yo Jong made her international debut in 2018 when she accompanied the North Korean delegation to the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics opening ceremony in South Korea. Serving as Kim Jong Un’s special envoy during her three-day stay marked the first time a member of the North Korean Kim family visited South Korea. The South Korean President at the time, Moon Jae-in, praised her, despite her aloof demeanor, which earned her the nickname “Cold Princess.”

Throughout the year, Kim Yo Jong’s diplomatic role became increasingly prominent, serving as the de facto foreign minister for the Kim regime. She played a significant role in various summits and international meetings, often accompanying Kim Jong Un. Her standing in international politics became more pronounced during Kim Jong Un’s meetings with then-U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping.

Frequenting high-profile meetings has made her status comparable to the likes of former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, indicating her pivotal role in North Korea’s political landscape.

U.S. President Donald Trump (2nd R) and North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un (2nd L) sign documents as U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo (R) and the North Korean leader's sister Kim Yo Jong (L) look on at a signing ceremony during their historic U.S.-North Korea summit, at the Capella Hotel on Sentosa island in Singapore on June 12, 2018. Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images

The extent of Kim Yo Jong’s power surpassed her modest title, leading to speculation about her potential as Kim Jong Un’s successor. While some believe she might assume leadership if Kim Jong Un suddenly dies or becomes incapacitated, others suggest that Kim Jong Un’s daughter, Kim Ju-ae, is being groomed as the next leader. Evidence of this includes multiple official photos of Kim Jong Un and his daughter, which appear to indicate his intention to secure her future role.

Over the past year, North Korean state media have released images of Kim Jong Un with his daughter on numerous occasions, interpreted by analysts as a sign of his intentions. South Korean intelligence reports the girl, Kim Ju-ae, to be around ten years old and likely Kim Jong Un’s second child.

In February, North Korean state television emphasized Kim Ju-ae as a direct descendant of the “Mount Paektu bloodline.” In addition, the state authorities forced anyone sharing the name “Ju-ae” to pick a new one, according to Radio Free Asia. Some suggest it’s a pattern observed when a new leader ascends to power.

People watch a television screen showing a news broadcast with an image of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un (L) and his daughter presumed to be named Ju-ae (R) attending a military parade held in Pyongyang to mark the 75th founding anniversary of its armed forces, at a railway station in Seoul on Feb. 9, 2023. Jung Yeon-je /AFP via Getty Images

The Kims have long claimed to have what they call the “Mount Paektu bloodline.” Mount Paektu is the tallest mountain in North Korea and Northeast China. It is said to be the most sacred spot on the peninsula for all Koreans.

Given North Korea’s history of individual cults and propaganda surrounding the Kim family, some interpret these images as “official recognition” of Kim Jong-ae’s potential succession. But there’s also speculation that female relatives like Kim Yo Jong are instrumental to Kim Jong Un’s rule.

The former South Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se told The New York Times that Kim Jong Un assigns different roles to his female relatives, leveraging their skills for political objectives.

According to Yun, Kim Jong Un also utilizes the women in his life, including the popular Kim Yo Jong, as tools for his rule. His sister often takes a hardline approach in diplomatic disputes, while his wife, Ri Sol Ju, is portrayed as the “mother of the state.” Kim Jong Un’s recent public appearances with his daughter serve to underline the strength of the Kim dynasty and present him as a benevolent father figure.

North Korean first lady Ri Sol-ju (L) and leader Kim Jong Un attend the Inter-Korean Summit dinner in Panmunjom, South Korea, on April 27, 2018. Korea Summit Press Pool/Getty Images

Meanwhile, Choi Byung-seop, a veteran of the Korean Ministry of Unification, said that Kim Jong Un’s presentation of his daughter is an attempt to reassure North Koreans about the continuity of the Mount Paektu bloodline and “test reactions within and outside his regime.”

As North Korea continues to promote the deification of the Kim family, the increasing public visibility of Kim Ju-ae appears to be a part of an “official recognition” strategy, Choi suggested, adding that she might be the latest in a line of women idolized and utilized for propaganda.

Yet, the exact intentions behind Kim Jong Un’s decision to push his daughter into the public eye remain unclear to outsiders. The regime recently released stamps featuring Kim Ju-ae, further cementing her place within North Korea’s elite. It remains to be seen how these events will shape the future of North Korea’s leadership.