NK leader’s sister takes role in regime

A woman thought to be Kim Yo-jong, the younger sister of North Korean ruler Kim Jong-un, smiles in the background as the young leader salutes in Pyongyang in this recent image captured from the North’s Korean Central Television. / Korea Times

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s recent public relations makeover, including the emergence of his wife, has surprised some with its effort to drag the Stalinist state into modernity. But who is behind the slick new image?

Some analysts suspect the role is being filled by the twenty-something leader’s younger sister, Kim Yo-jong, who is said to be a confidante and lover of the arts. Big changes in the regime, they say, would have to come from within the ruling family.

The charm offensive took shape last month when Pyongyang’s media released images of Kim watching a concert with an attractive woman later revealed to be his wife, Ri Sol-ju. The show featured icons of American culture such as Disney characters and the theme song to “Rocky.”

While not earth-shattering for most other countries, the moves quickly distanced Kim’s fledgling regime from that of his late father, the reclusive Kim Jong-il who died late last year.

Both Kims’ interest in mainstream culture and the first lady treatment of his wife suggests the new leader may try to import some of what he learned during his Swiss education to the impoverished country.

Yo-jong, thought to be around 25, is believed to have joined her brother in Switzerland to attend school around 1996, staying there for four years under the name Kim Yong-sun. Reports in April said she was elevated to a section chief in the ruling Worker’s Party.

Yoo Ho-yeol, an expert at Korea University, said she is likely free to give her frank opinion on matters but it remains too early to say that she is playing a major policy role.

“Like her brother, she was educated in the West. So she may have different ideas than other officials and can express them to Kim Jong-un. Her role is likely to increase as it will help keep the power of the royal family,” he said adding both are likely to be shepherded by their aunt Kim Kyong-hui.

The siblings, along with their older brother Jong-chul, are the offspring of Kim Jong-il and Ko Yong-hee, who died in 2004.

Watchers say Yo-jong played an increasing role during her father’s final years, accompanying him on visits and inspections, largely staying out of the spotlight while reportedly working at his personal secretariat. It would be natural for her to eventually be involved in political affairs given that Kim Kyong-hui long served as a close aide to her brother Kim Jong-il, they said.

Uncertainty has abounded for years over Yo-jong, who many believed showed up last year at an Eric Clapton concert in Singapore with Jong-chul. She was also identified as having attended the funeral ceremony for her father looking much thinner than the woman at the legendary guitarist’s show.

Kenji Fujimoto, Kim Jong-il’s former sushi chef who was recently invited to the North, said Yo-jong was on hand for a party thrown for him by Kim Jong-un. Fujimoto said the new leader would experiment with economic reform in the future.

The building of the Kim Jong-un personality cult began in earnest following the death of his father, with the media capturing him clasping hands with citizens and even giving speeches, both stylistic departures from Kim Jong-il. Watchers say he has fashioned his looks after his grandfather, country founder Kim Il-sung, who remains popular in the secluded state. <The Korea Times/Kim Young-jin>

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