Kim Jong Un’s sister noticed with kids in new photographs launched by North Korea
South Korea’s spy company mentioned Friday it was analysing uncommon state media footage displaying the highly effective sister of North Korean chief Kim Jong Un with two kids — saying they may very well be hers.
Key regime spokeswoman Kim Yo Jong was noticed with two children — a boy and a woman — whereas attending North Korea’s New 12 months artwork efficiency.
She was seen holding the boy’s hand because the three walked collectively.
The remoted North has by no means formally disclosed any details about Kim Yo Jong’s marital standing or kids, however Seoul’s spy company mentioned it was analyzing whether or not the youngsters within the state media footage had been hers.
“We’re conducting an in depth evaluation whereas holding the chance open,” it mentioned in a press release.
The Nationwide Intelligence Service mentioned they’d beforehand detected that Kim Yo Jong might need kids, and those she was photographed with had been within the appropriate age vary.
Seoul’s unification ministry instructed AFP that the artwork efficiency occasion in Pyongyang is known to be one the place individuals are anticipated to accompany their members of the family, however mentioned it was “uncommon” to see Kim Yo Jong with kids.
State media footage additionally confirmed chief Kim together with his teenage daughter, generally known as Ju Ae.
Seoul-based specialist website NK Information mentioned the discharge of the pictures is likely to be a part of a “propaganda effort to humanise regime officers”.
“It additionally follows a development that began earlier in 2022 of displaying elite officers in Kim Jong Un’s internal circle arriving at particular occasions or donating catastrophe aid with their spouses and members of the family,” it mentioned.
Kim Yo Jong has lengthy been amongst her brother’s closest lieutenants, and one of the influential ladies within the remoted regime.
Born in 1988, based on the South Korean authorities, she is one in all three kids born to Kim’s father and predecessor, Kim Jong Il, and his third identified associate, former dancer Ko Yong Hui.
She was educated in Switzerland alongside her brother and rose quickly up the ranks as soon as he inherited energy after their father’s loss of life in 2011.
In April 2015, Seoul’s spy company mentioned that Kim Yo Jong was presumed to be giving beginning the next month.
Later, in 2018, the spy company within the South mentioned it was understood that Kim was pregnant throughout her go to to South Korea in February of that yr for the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics.
