New image of North Korea's 'most powerful woman'

Like any other member of the family, information about Kim Yo-jong, the youngest daughter of the late leader Kim Jong-il and the younger sister of leader Kim Jong-un, is very scarce. Even when she became a close aide to her brother during historic trips, the media had difficulty accessing and determining her true role.

However, in recent times, Ms. Kim has continuously appeared with important statements on the country's issues, including inter-Korean relations - one of Pyongyang's most important issues. In particular, in recent days, North Korean state media has highlighted the image and role of Kim Yo-jong in responding to the leafleting action from the South Korean side.

Ms. Kim Yo-jong - sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. Photo: Getty

Influencing tactics

North Korea on June 16 destroyed an inter-Korean liaison office building just north of the Demilitarized Zone in a move that was both symbolic and tactical. But experts say it may also have served another purpose: boosting the domestic status of leader Kim Jong-un's sister.

Kim's absence in recent months has sparked speculation about his health, and Kim Yo-jong has been touted by international media as a potential successor in the event of Kim's absence. "What we're seeing now is that North Korea appears to be planning a backup succession plan," said Yoo Dong-ryul, a North Korea expert at the Korea Institute for Liberal Democracy in Seoul.

The problem is that Kim Yo-jong is a woman and still very young, he added. So leader Kim Jong-un has seen the need to help his sister prove that she is capable of solving the country's complex problems with actions that can shatter any reservations of the military hardliners. The fact that North Korea destroyed the inter-Korean liaison office shortly after Kim Yo-jong's statement shows the strong power she holds.

Kim Yo-jong accompanies her brother on important trips. Photo: Reuters

A day after the destruction of the inter-Korean liaison office, Kim Yo-jong said in her speech that she was “uncomfortable to hear such shameless sweet talk.” In it, she criticized President Moon Jae-in’s speech two days ago on the 20th anniversary of the Inter-Korean Joint Declaration (June 15, 2000).

According to experts, in North Korea, very few leaders other than Mr. Kim Jong-un can make such statements. Ms. Kim can hold much more power than her titles: Vice Director of the Propaganda and Agitation Department of the Workers' Party and only an alternate member of the North Korean Politburo.

Analysts say Ms. Jong’s political path is somewhat unconventional. When the late President Kim Jong-il took power, taking control of the military was his top priority. His son, Kim Jong-un, was appointed vice chairman of the Central Military Commission before being formally declared the future leader. Meanwhile, Ms. Kim Yo-jong has no military record and is not currently a member of the Central Military Commission. Therefore, it seems unlikely that she will play an important role without a convincing political profile.

Kim Yo-jong appeared next to leader Kim Jong-un in his first "reappearance" in May after many days of absence. Photo: KCNA

Political path

Kim Yo-jong is the youngest child and only daughter of late leader Kim Jong Il. Personal information about her remains inconsistent. According to the US Treasury Department, Kim Yo-jong was born on September 26, 1989, in Pyongyang, while South Korean intelligence agencies believe that the North Korean leader's younger sister was born in 1987. During her childhood, Yo-jong lived with her family in central Pyongyang, according to Biography.com. In 1996, she went to study in Switzerland with her brother, where she used the alias Pak Mi Hyang.

In 2007, Kim Yo-jong officially entered politics, and her first step was to join the Workers' Party of Korea. She worked as her father's secretary until his death in 2011, but this was completely hidden from the public. In the eyes of the international public, Kim Jong-il's youngest daughter was only known in a photo at her father's funeral, behind her brother Kim Jong-un.

When Kim Jong-un came to power, Kim Yo-jong played a role in promoting his image as the first vice director of the Propaganda and Agitation Department. Her role as a close aide was increasingly demonstrated through major diplomatic activities. She always appeared radiant to support her brother, once holding an ashtray for Kim when the leader smoked, preparing documents for him to sign during a summit with US President Donald Trump....

Ms. Kim Yo-jong (left) shakes hands with South Korean President Moon Jae-in at the Blue House in 2018. Photo: AP

In 2018, when attending the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics, Kim Yo-jong became the first member of the Kim family to visit South Korea since the armistice of the Korean War in 1953. She acted as her brother's special envoy to the North Korean delegation and met with South Korean President Moon Jae-in. Appearing under the lens of international reporters with a slight smile, gentle and without any statements to the press, at that time, the New York Times compared Kim to "North Korea's Ivanka", even surpassing in terms of diplomatic image US Vice President Mike Pence - a guest at the opening ceremony of the Olympics.

However, after 2 years, from a “peace messenger” who brought “smile diplomacy” to South Korea, Kim Yo-jong is now surprising the Southern elite with her tough policies. Not to mention the next actions in inter-Korean relations, the new element in the North Korean government will cause headaches for Seoul’s political circles.

Kim Yo-jong's "smile diplomacy" when attending the 2018 Winter Olympics in South Korea. Photo AP

Observers say that, whatever her intentions are to strengthen her role, it is clear that she is proving to be the “second most powerful person”. Michael Madden, a North Korea expert at the Stimson Center, a US-based research institute, commented: “It is clear that North Korea has high expectations for her; not necessarily the next leader, but someone with important influence.”