South Korea’s spy company stated Friday it was analyzing uncommon state media footage exhibiting the highly effective sister of North Korean chief Kim Jong Un with two kids — saying they could possibly be hers.
Key regime spokeswoman Kim Yo Jong was noticed with two children — a boy and a woman — whereas attending North Korea’s New Yr 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 stated it was analyzing whether or not the kids within the state media footage have been hers.
“We’re conducting an in depth evaluation whereas protecting the chance open,” it stated in a press release.
Jorge Silva / AP
The Nationwide Intelligence Service stated that they had beforehand detected that Kim Yo Jong might need kids, and those she was photographed with have been within the right age vary.
Seoul’s unification ministry advised AFP that the artwork efficiency occasion in Pyongyang is known to be one the place contributors are anticipated to accompany their relations, however stated it was “uncommon” to see Kim Yo Jong with kids.
State media footage additionally confirmed chief Kim along with his teenage daughter, referred to as Kim Ju Ae.
Seoul-based specialist website NK Information stated the discharge of the photographs is likely to be a part of a “propaganda effort to humanize regime officers.”
“It additionally follows a development that began earlier in 2022 of exhibiting elite officers in Kim Jong Un’s internal circle arriving at particular occasions or donating catastrophe aid with their spouses and relations,” it stated.
Kim Yo Jong has lengthy been amongst her brother’s closest lieutenants and one of the vital influential girls within the remoted regime.
Born in 1988, in keeping with the South Korean authorities, she is considered one of 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 died in 2011.
In April 2015, Seoul’s spy company stated that Kim Yo Jong was presumed to be giving delivery the next month.
Later, in 2018, the spy company within the South stated it was understood that Kim was pregnant throughout her visit to South Korea in February of that 12 months for the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics.
This summer time, the Nationwide Intelligence Service advised lawmakers that Kim Jong Un had regained weight and appeared to have obesity-related well being issues similar to hypertension and diabetes. Kim, identified for heavy ingesting and smoking, comes from a household with a historical past of coronary heart issues. Each Kim’s father and grandfather, who dominated North Korea earlier than his 2011 inheritance of energy, died of coronary heart points.
Kim’s well being is the main target of eager consideration outdoors North Korea since he hasn’t formally anointed a successor who would take cost of the nation’s advancing nuclear arsenal targeting the United States and its allies if he was incapacitated.
The Nationwide Intelligence Service has assessed that Kim’s preteen daughter is bolstering her doubtless standing as her father’s inheritor obvious. Nonetheless, the company stated it can’t rule out the chance that she could possibly be changed by considered one of her siblings as a result of she hasn’t been formally designated as her father’s successor.
