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Miami Herald
30-07-2025
- Politics
- Miami Herald
Who is Kim Yo Jong, sister and 'right hand' of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un?
SEOUL, South Korea - Since taking office in January, President Trump has expressed an interest in restarting talks with Kim Jong Un, whom he met for a series of unsuccessful denuclearization summits in 2018 and 2019. But throwing cold water on the latest hopes of a Round 2 is none other than Kim Yo Jong, the powerful younger sister of the North Korean leader. In a statement published by the state-run Korean Central News Agency on Tuesday, she said that a precondition for any sort of dialogue between Washington and Pyongyang was U.S. acceptance of North Korea as a nuclear state. "Any attempt to deny the position of the DPRK as a nuclear weapons state which was established along with the existence of a powerful nuclear deterrent and fixed by the supreme law reflecting the unanimous will of all the DPRK people will be thoroughly rejected," she said in the statement. While adding that the personal relationship between Trump and her brother Kim was "not bad," she warned against trying to leverage this into Pyongyang's denuclearization, a scenario she called "a mockery of the other party." Here's what to know about Kim Yo Jong, who has variously been described as Kim's mouthpiece and a potential successor: Born in either 1987 or 1988, Kim Yo Jong is Kim's only sister, and one of the five children born to Kim Jong Il, who ruled North Korea from 1994 to 2011. She is the vice director of the Propaganda and Agitation Department at the Korean Workers' Party, as well as a member of the State Affairs Commission, North Korea's top decision-making authority. Little is known about her upbringing, other than the fact that she spent part of her youth in Bern, Switzerland, where she was educated alongside her brother. She later attended Kim Il Sung University in North Korea. Since making her first major public appearance at her father's funeral in 2011, Kim Yo Jong has quickly established herself as a key figure in her brother's circle - a feat that none of her other siblings or half-siblings have managed. Passed over for succession in favor of Kim Jong Un, her eldest brother Kim Jong Chul is now reportedly living a quiet life away from politics. Her half-brother Kim Jong Nam, a playboy once known for his fondness for Disneyland - and who some suggested was a CIA informant - was assassinated at an airport in Malaysia in 2017, on orders believed to have come from leader Kim. Kim Yo Jong, who is believed to be one of the North Korean leader's most trusted aides, with considerable influence over foreign policy, has routinely been spotted with her brother during important public events, such as those showcasing the nation's nuclear weapons, and high-profile international trips. She was part of the North Korean delegation to the Winter Olympics in South Korea in 2018. At her brother's summit with then-South Korean President Moon Jae-in that year, Kim Yo Jong attended as a special envoy. Since assuming her current position as vice director of the Workers' Party's Propaganda and Agitation Department in 2014, she has been at the front lines of North Korea's ideological messaging, writing much of Pyongyang's signature invective. She was blacklisted by the U.S. Treasury Department in 2017. After moves by the U.S. and South Korea to bolster their military alliance in 2023, she called President Biden "an old man with no future" and former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol "a hungry dog barking with the joy of getting a bone." Last year, in response to North Korean defectors in South Korea sending balloons filled with propaganda over the border - which prompted North Korea to retaliate with trash-filled balloons of its own - she threatened a "gruesome and dear price" for what Pyongyang has long seen as hostile acts, denouncing the defectors as "scum." Kim Yo Jong's pedigree and political rise have fueled speculation that she might one day be an heir to her older brother. But with succession having been intergenerational, experts have said the more likely heir will be one of leader Kim's children. South Korean intelligence officials believe that Kim has three children, with the eldest and youngest being sons. Despite the fact that North Korea has always been led by men, the only child to have appeared in public is his young daughter, Kim Ju Ae, whose increasing presence at state events with her father has raised the possibility this tradition may one day be broken. Still, the North Korean leader is believed to suffer an array of health issues related to his weight, such as high blood pressure and diabetes. Experts including Thae Young-ho, a former North Korean diplomat who defected to South Korea in 2016, say this makes Kim Yo Jong's role all the more crucial. In an interview with South Korean media in 2023, Thae expressed his belief that the Kim family's grip on the country may not survive another generation, arguing that ordinary North Koreans were increasingly disillusioned by dynastic rule. Still, he said, "if Kim Jong Un suddenly dies, the system is such that interim leadership can only pass to the No. 2, Kim Yo Jong." Copyright (C) 2025, Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Portions copyrighted by the respective providers.
Los Angeles Times
30-07-2025
- Politics
- Los Angeles Times
Who is Kim Yo Jong, sister and ‘right hand' of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un?
SEOUL — Since taking office in January, President Trump has expressed an interest in restarting talks with Kim Jong Un, whom he met for a series of unsuccessful denuclearization summits in 2018 and 2019. But throwing cold water on the latest hopes of a Round 2 is none other than Kim Yo Jong, the powerful younger sister of the North Korean leader. In a statement published by the state-run Korean Central News Agency on Tuesday, she said that a precondition for any sort of dialogue between Washington and Pyongyang was U.S. acceptance of North Korea as a nuclear state. 'Any attempt to deny the position of the DPRK as a nuclear weapons state which was established along with the existence of a powerful nuclear deterrent and fixed by the supreme law reflecting the unanimous will of all the DPRK people will be thoroughly rejected,' she said in the statement. While adding that the personal relationship between Trump and her brother Kim was 'not bad,' she warned against trying to leverage this into Pyongyang's denuclearization, a scenario she called 'a mockery of the other party.' Here's what to know about Kim Yo Jong, who has variously been described as Kim's mouthpiece and a potential successor: Born in either 1987 or 1988, Kim Yo Jong is Kim's only sister, and one of the five children born to Kim Jong Il, who ruled North Korea from 1994 to 2011. She is the vice director of the Propaganda and Agitation Department at the Korean Workers' Party, as well as a member of the State Affairs Commission, North Korea's top decision-making authority. Little is known about her upbringing, other than the fact that she spent part of her youth in Bern, Switzerland, where she was educated alongside her brother. She later attended Kim Il Sung University in North Korea. Since making her first major public appearance at her father's funeral in 2011, Kim Yo Jong has quickly established herself as a key figure in her brother's circle — a feat that none of her other siblings or half-siblings have managed. Passed over for succession in favor of Kim Jong Un, her eldest brother Kim Jong Chul is now reportedly living a quiet life away from politics. Her half-brother Kim Jong Nam, a playboy once known for his fondness for Disneyland — and who some suggested was a CIA informant — was assassinated at an airport in Malaysia in 2017, on orders believed to have come from leader Kim. Kim Yo Jong, who is believed to be one of the North Korean leader's most trusted aides, with considerable influence over foreign policy, has routinely been spotted with her brother during important public events, such as those showcasing the nation's nuclear weapons, and high-profile international trips. She was part of the North Korean delegation to the Winter Olympics in South Korea in 2018. At her brother's summit with then-South Korean President Moon Jae-in that year, Kim Yo Jong attended as a special envoy. Since assuming her current position as vice director of the Workers' Party's Propaganda and Agitation Department in 2014, she has been at the front lines of North Korea's ideological messaging, writing much of Pyongyang's signature invective. She was blacklisted by the U.S. Treasury Department in 2017. After moves by the U.S. and South Korea to bolster their military alliance in 2023, she called President Biden 'an old man with no future' and former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol 'a hungry dog barking with the joy of getting a bone.' Last year, in response to North Korean defectors in South Korea sending balloons filled with propaganda over the border — which prompted North Korea to retaliate with trash-filled balloons of its own — she threatened a 'gruesome and dear price' for what Pyongyang has long seen as hostile acts, denouncing the defectors as 'scum.' Kim Yo Jong's pedigree and political rise have fueled speculation that she might one day be an heir to her older brother. But with succession having been intergenerational, experts have said the more likely heir will be one of leader Kim's children. South Korean intelligence officials believe that Kim has three children, with the eldest and youngest being sons. Despite the fact that North Korea has always been led by men, the only child to have appeared in public is his young daughter, Kim Ju Ae, whose increasing presence at state events with her father has raised the possibility this tradition may one day be broken. Still, the North Korean leader is believed to suffer an array of health issues related to his weight, such as high blood pressure and diabetes. Experts including Thae Young-ho, a former North Korean diplomat who defected to South Korea in 2016, say this makes Kim Yo Jong's role all the more crucial. In an interview with South Korean media in 2023, Thae expressed his belief that the Kim family's grip on the country may not survive another generation, arguing that ordinary North Koreans were increasingly disillusioned by dynastic rule. Still, he said, 'if Kim Jong Un suddenly dies, the system is such that interim leadership can only pass to the No. 2, Kim Yo Jong.'
Newsweek
29-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
TV Drama Shows North Koreans State's Failings for First Time
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A new North Korean television drama has drawn attention for its unusually candid depiction of corruption and deep-rooted social problems inside the secretive communist state. Why It Matters The show's April release marked a rare moment in North Korean media, where television dramas have previously shown the country as an idealized utopia in line with the propaganda of supreme leader Kim Jong Un's regime. The government, led by the Korean Workers' Party, tightly censors media in the country, and watching foreign TV shows can result in lengthy prison camp sentences or even public execution, according to defectors who have fled to South Korea. Newsweek has contacted the North Korean Embassy in China for comment by email. What To Know The 22-episode series, titled "A New Spring in the Paekhak Plain," centers on the struggles of a party secretary who relocates to Paekhak, a remote farming village in North Korea's western Sinchon County. In his efforts to help the struggling community boost its crop yields, the official is confronted with local hardships and widespread corruption not present in past North Korean dramas. Hardship and corruption are major themes throughout the series. The story depicts food insecurity, bribery and officials embezzling grain—showing ordinary people offering bribes for favors and bureaucrats abusing their power. Young people take part in a ball in Pyongyang on July 26, the eve of the 72nd anniversary of the armistice agreement that ended the 1950-1953 Korean War. Young people take part in a ball in Pyongyang on July 26, the eve of the 72nd anniversary of the armistice agreement that ended the 1950-1953 Korean War. Kyodo via Associated Press Unlike earlier productions, which tied emotional displays to ideological loyalty, the show features romantic subplots with flirtation and heartbreak. Family conflict also appears, as the main character's move creates tension with his wife. The drama even addresses class divides, with one mother paying her son's girlfriend—who hails from a lower social stratum—to end their relationship. Despite these changes, propaganda remains present. Scenes of smartphone use, new homes and abundant food are common, contrasting with the harsh reality faced by most North Koreans. Jeon Young-sun, a North Korean culture researcher at Konkuk University in Seoul, told The Wall Street Journal that the show was "provocative" media reflecting Kim's push for more engaging state content and promises to improve living standards. The series follows severe flooding and landslides along the Yalu River last year that left more than 1,000 people dead or missing and thousands more displaced. What People Are Saying Isaac Stone Fish, the founder and CEO of the research firm Strategy Risks, wrote on X: "For the first time, North Korean viewers can see a North Korean television show featuring some of the awful problems with North Korea. A massive change." Chris Monday, an associate professor at South Korea's Dongseo University, told The Wall Street Journal: "We have never seen Party failings and personal failings depicted so starkly." What Happens Next Analysts have said the show signals a shift in the regime's media strategy. Jeon told The Wall Street Journal that it may reflect Kim's drive to keep citizens watching state television while promising better living conditions.
See - Sada Elbalad
26-05-2025
- Politics
- See - Sada Elbalad
North Korea-Russia Relations: The Honeymoon Phase May Be Over
Cha, Du Hyeon(Principal Fellow at the Asan Institute for Policy Studies) On Apr. 26, Russian Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov mentioned that he wanted to give credit to North Korean troops who had made great contributions to liberating the Kursk region when he was debriefed to President Vladimir Putin via video call on Russian troops' reclamation of territory in Kursk occupied by Ukrainian forces. Moscow officially acknowledged the deployment of North Korean troops in six months following the initial suspicion raised by the Ukrainian intelligence authorities in Oct. 2024 that Pyongyang sent its troops to the Russia-Ukraine war. Thereafter, Pyongyang also announced a written statement in the name of the Central Military Commission of the Korean Workers' Party, disclosing its troops dispatch while commending the troops for their 'heroic feats' and 'significant contributions' and assessing the dispatch of its troops and the recovery of Kursk as 'a historic new chapter for the North Korea-Russia relations, marking the pinnacle of strategic alliance and brotherhood.' President Putin exchanged handshakes with North Korea's military delegation at a Victory Day military parade held in Moscow on May 9. Kim Jong-un highlighted 'eight decades of unshakable friendship and solidarity of the two', claiming that North Korean and Russian troops eliminated their 'shared enemy' and its participation in the battlefield was legitimate as its 'sovereign rights'. On the face of such remarks and their closer ties, the two seem to be demonstrating a stronger alliance which has been reignited after the signing of the North Korea-Russia Treaty on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in Jun. 2024. At the same time, what lies beneath is a subtle divergence in how the two sides interpret their bilateral relationship. First, even though Russia and North Korea have officially acknowledged the deployment of North Korean troops, there are some nuanced differences. Unlike the North which has described the deployment as heroic acts and claimed such military contributions are reciprocal, Russia has not mentioned its role in matters related to the Korean Peninsula while recognizing North Korean troops' contributions. Indeed, Russia has limited the collaboration with North Korea to the Russia-Ukraine War while Kim firmly stated that 'any aggression' by South Korea or the US on the Korean Peninsula would be countered 'in accordance with the the provisions and spirit of the North Korea-Russia Treaty'. Such differences were also observed during the military parade on the Victory Day held in Moscow. Some had speculated that Kim would attend the parade, but he did not. This may suggest that the Victory Day event—attended by various parties—did not align with his intention to showcase their close ties. In other words, Moscow which has already gained the upper hand in the Ukraine war may have wished to avoid a situation in which their relationship would be highlighted, unlike Pyongyang, which is eager to emphasize their ties at home and abroad. Second, as North Korea and Russia strengthen their ties, there is a possibility of disagreements arising during the interim settlement process in which they discuss what they can offer each other. On top of that, it can be said that North Korea has already conveyed its intentions by Kim not attending Russia's Victory Day celebrations. Despite North Korean troops' contribution to the recapture of Kursk, currently, there is no indication that North Korean troops have been deployed to eastern Ukraine in which Russia is intensifying its offensive. Having already demonstrated its ability to supply Russia with weapons and troops, North Korea may intend to convey a message that Russia's further demands should be matched by greater compensation. It may have already received or been promised food, energy, and conventional weapons from Russia in exchange for its artillery shells, ballistic missiles, and deployment of troops. Kim may now demand something beyond what he has previously received--possibly technology and components for its recently-revealed submarine and 5,500-ton destroyer, as well as nuclear-related technology, but Russia's response remains unclear. Third, the North Korea-China relations, as well as the relationship between the two leaders, may also be considered variables. The strengthening of North Korea-Russia ties may strain North Korea's relationship with China, which accounts for over 90% of North Korea's foreign trade. It is uncertain how long North Korea can endure such a risk. Given that Russia has been increasingly depending on China after the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine war, it also has to recalibrate the level of alignment with North Korea. The fact that all three countries—North Korea, China, and Russia—are characterized by an authoritarian one-man dictatorship serves as an incentive for collaboration, while also posing potential challenges. The dictator has a desire for control and dominance, and the desire usually reaches beyond internal governance and into foreign relations. As Kim Jong-un and North Korea who seek to establish themselves as an equal partner with China and Russia and to drive the trilateral cooperation at times, there is a possibility of a rift among the leaders, with China and Russia trying to keep North Korea still in a junior partner role. In some ways, the close ties between North Korea and Russia may have already entered a period of adjustment, having passed the honeymoon phase. The fact that the two have officially acknowledged the participation of North Korean troops in the war suggests that such an adjustment has already begun. Initially, both were reluctant to officially confirm the deployment of North Korean troops, with Moscow calling it 'a matter between the two' and Pyongyang describing it as 'an action in accordance with international legal norms'. The significant losses that North Korean troops inevitably experienced in the early stages of the deployment may have played a key role in this reluctance. In addition, their deliberate wait for a more opportune moment for propaganda purposes is evidence that they themselves have acknowledged the unjustifiability of the deployment. North Korea will likely demand substantial compensation for its heroic achievements, but Russia's calculations may now take a different turn after having narrowly avoided a critical situation. read more Analysis- Turkey Has 0 Regional Allies... Why? Analysis: Russia, Turkey... Libya in Return For Syria? Analysis: Who Will Gain Trump's Peace Plan Fruits? Analysis: Will Turkey's Erdogan Resort to Snap Election? Analysis: What Are Turkey's Aspirations in Iraq? Opinion & Analysis Analysis: Mercenaries In Libya... Who Should Be Blamed? 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