DPRK’s main propagandist: Details about Kim Jong Un's possible successor

Read RBC-Ukraine's article on Kim Yo-jong's biography and her promotion to the highest state positions.

Contents:

• "Sweet princess" and family favorite
• PR Queen
• Kim Yo-jong’s political career
• Controversial statements by the dictator’s sister

"Sweet princess" and family favorite

Kim Yo-jong, 36, is part of North Korea's ruling dynasty. She is the granddaughter of the DPRK's first leader, Kim Il Sung, the younger daughter of the second leader Kim Jong Il, and the sister of the current Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un.

Kim Yo-jong's early years were spent in Pyongyang. As the youngest child, she was the family's favorite. She was affectionately called the "sweet princess," and at family dinners, she always sat next to her father.

At the age of 8, she moved to Switzerland, where she attended a private school in Bern alongside her two brothers. During her time in Europe, she grew particularly close to Kim Jong Un.

Upon returning to the DPRK, she studied at Kim Il Sung University, majoring in computer science.

PR Queen

At 21, Kim Yo-jong began her career in the Workers' Party of Korea. She joined her father's team and accompanied him on trips and official events, but her presence was not heavily publicized. Attention was focused on the heir apparent, Kim Jong Un, who was already suffering from health issues at that time.

After her father’s death, Kim Yo-jong became one of Kim Jong Un's closest allies during the transition period. She managed her brother's schedule, organized his travel routes, and ensured his security.

Photo: Kim Yo-jong's sister is the "second person" in the state (wikimedia.org)

In 2014, Kim Yo-jong was appointed Deputy Director of the Propaganda and Agitation Department, but she effectively managed the department. For a woman in the government, this position was previously considered unattainable.

Her responsibilities included overseeing cultural and informational policy in North Korea.

The Propaganda and Agitation Department handles daily operations and staff appointments in the Publication Guidance Bureau (which controls news reports and publications), the Central Broadcasting Committee, film studios, and art troupes. The department also manages political education, ideological training events, and public affairs.

Kim Yo-jong is regarded as the DPRK's chief propagandist. She worked on developing her brother's image based on the personality cult of their grandfather, Kim Il Sung - the great leader and eternal leader.

She is credited with organizing all major public events in North Korea. She encouraged her brother to present himself as a kind person from the people, inspiring him to visit schools, and homes of ordinary Koreans, and enjoy carnival rides.

According to the BBC, Kim Yo-jong has become North Korea's "PR queen."

“She is the master of her brother's image, and on this occasion, she has mastered the media's portrayal of her country,” BBC stated.

Kim Yo-jong’s political career

While serving as Deputy Director of the Propaganda Department, Kim Yo-jong also headed the party division responsible for the DPRK's military funding.

In 2017, she was appointed as a candidate member of the Politburo - the top decision-making institution.

Kim Yo-jong gained international prominence during the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics.

Photo: Kim Yo-jong (far right in the top row) at the 2018 Olympics (wikimedia.org)

This visit marked the first time a member of the Kim dynasty had visited South Korea since the 1950-1953 war, which eased inter-Korean tensions.

Kim Yo-jong was seen as the face of dialogue between North and South Korea until relations soured again in 2020 when she became a vocal critic of the South Korean presidential office.

She continued her diplomatic work by accompanying her brother to international negotiations. She was present at the 2018 Singapore Summit between North Korea and the US and the 2019 Hanoi Summit, where Kim Jong Un met with US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Photo: Kim Jong Un and Kim Yo-jong at the meeting with Donald Trump in 2019 (twitter.com/photowhitehouse)

In 2019, Kim Yo-jong was elected to the Supreme People's Assembly. That same year, she was briefly removed from the party's Politburo but was reinstated in 2020. This coincided with Kim Jong Un’s illness and disappearance from the public eye.

During this period, media speculated that Kim Yo-jong might replace her brother as Supreme Leader. South Korean intelligence reported that Kim Jong Un had delegated some of his powers to his relative.

Subsequently, Kim Jong Un resumed his duties, and in 2021, Kim Yo-jong was appointed to the State Affairs Commission of North Korea - constitutionally the supreme political authority of North Korea. She is now the second person in power after Kim Jong Un and the main censor of the DPRK.

Amid concerns about Kim Jong Un's health, his sister is still considered a potential successor, although there is also speculation about his daughter, Kim Ju Ae, who is only 12 years old. Recently, the young girl has been appearing more frequently with her father at various events.

Controversial statements by the dictator’s sister

In 2020, in response to protests from the South Korean government against DPRK military exercises, Kim Yo-jong compared South Korean President Moon Jae-in's statement to a"barking dog seized with fear."

She urged him to "shut his mouth" after South Korea offered economic aid to North Korea in exchange for nuclear disarmament in 2022.

“No one barters its destiny for corn cake,” she declared.

Kim Yo-jong described the South Korean presidential office as a "burnt child dreading fire."

In several statements, she threatened South Korea with nuclear weapon use if it fired even a single bullet at North Korean territory.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Kim Yo-jong accused Seoul of causing a disease outbreak in North Korea and threatened "deadly retaliation."

She also criticized the then-newly elected US President Joe Biden, calling him an "old man with no future."

In response to South Korea and the US military exercises in 2021, she issued a warning:

“If it wants to sleep in peace for [the] coming four years, it had better refrain from causing a stink at its first step,” she stated.

Photo: Kim Yo-jong leads aggressive information policy (wikimedia.org)

Kim Yo-jong does not shy away from commenting on the war initiated by Russia, and she has expressed favorable views toward the aggressor nation, with which North Korea is increasing military cooperation.

Following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Kim Yo-jong praised the "heroism of the Russian army" and promised that North Korea would be an eternal ally to Russia and stand with the Russian occupiers on the same battlefield.

“No matter how desperately the imperialist allied forces may try, they will never weaken the heroic stamina of the Russian army and people with high patriotism, stubbornness and strong mental power,” she emphasized.

According to Kim Yo-jong, the US and the West supposedly have no right to help Ukraine as it "destroys global peace and regional stability."

She also accused Ukrainian officials of repeatedly openly showing their nuclear ambitions and accused the Ukrainian government of "delusions of grandeur about defeating Russia."

Sources: Reuters, BBC, CNN, The Guardian, 38 North, KCNA Watch, Wikipedia