Kim Yo-jong (김요정) is the younger sister of Kim Jong-un. She was born on September 26, 1987. Kim Jong-il (1941-2011), her father used to call her Kim Il-sun ([김일순], where [일] means first and [순] unique. Her mother was Ko yong-hui (고영희-1952-2004). Except Kim Jong Un, she has one other older brother: Kim Jong-chol (born in 1981).
As the other children of Kim Jong Il, she was educated in Europe (Switzerland and France). Later she came back to the Kim Il Sung University, where she followed a similar education track to her brothers and sisters. She also studied computer science at Kim Il Sung University. Kim Yo Jong had also an individual political education consisting of theoretical lectures and practical ones. She used to work in different departments of the WPK (a “management programme) in order to understand the structures of the WPK. She had some workshops in the OGD and PAD structures. Kim Yo Jong speaks fluently English and French and have some basic knowledge in Chinese. She also obtained a practical education in economic issues through a deep partnership with her aunt Kim Kyung Hee.
In 2012, she became a director at the National Defence Commission. Kim Yo Jong was promoted to the Central Committee of the WPK in April 2014. In May 2016 Kim Yo Jong, was also given a seat in the Politburo.
During the second plenary meeting of the 7th Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea, which was held on the 7th October 2017, Kim Yo Jong was nominated as an alternate member of the WPK Politburo. It’s not the most powerful political organization of North Korea, however it’s definitely improved the visibility of Kim Yo-jong. She replaced her aunt Kim Kyung Hee in the Politburo. By nominating Kim Yo Jong to a public post, Kim Jong-un officialy coresponsibilized Kim Yo-jong for the hazardous policy of North Korea. The Pandora Box is open.
Regarding her private life, It’s said that she has one child, and is supposedly married to Choe Song, the son of Choe Ryong Hae, also a Politburo member. It’s impossible to verify this information, nevertheless, taking in account the importance of the Kim family generational system, I consider that Kim Yo Jong is probably the mother of an unidentified child. Taking in account her responsibilities, she probably doesn’t take care on her own of her supposed child.
She often travels abroad. For instance, she was seen at a theater in Singapore in 2011. She was a frequent visitor to France, where the Kim family has some flats and houses. She also visited in the past China, Egypt, Germany, Italy, Malaysia, Japan, Singapore, Spain, Thailand and the United Kingdom. She is well known by Thae Yong Ho, a high profile North Korea defector.
She is still a frequent visitor to France, where the Kim family has several flats (especially in Paris) and houses. On the other hand, a travel ban and asset freeze on senior leadership figures including Kim Yo Jong was recently decided by the UN Security Council. It must be noticed that some of the assets in Europe of the Kim family have not be yet confiscated.
In 2018, Kim Yo Jong on became officialy the first member of her family to visit South Korea since the 1950-53 Korean War. However it’s known that Kim Yong Ju, the younger brother of Kim Il Sung used to visit South Korean in the 70’s. Jang Sung thaek, the deceased husband of Kim Kyung Hee, the aunt of Kim Jong un was also several times in South Korea. Kim Yong Nam, the former North Korean official head of state, who also accompanied Kim Yo Jong, is also a far member of the Kim family.
Kim Yo-jong circled in yellow.
In 2013, I already explained that Kim Yo Jong was closely working with Kim Jong Un. I consider as reasonable, mentioning that Kim Yo Jong is working in the Personnal Secretary of Kim Jong Un.
Interestingly, a travel ban and asset freeze on senior leadership figures including Kim Yo-jong was decided in June, 2016 by the UN Security Council. It must be noticed that some of the assets of the Kim family in Europe have not be yet confiscated. Therefore, I strongly consider, that the South Korean authorities were forced to invite Kim Yo-jong to PyeongChang. North Korean authorities wanted to complicate relations between South Korea and the United States. Therefore, Kim Yo-jong is only an instrument of the North Korean foreign policy.
Opinions&analysis on North and South Korean issues 