Who Is Kim Yo Jong? North Korea Supreme Leader's 'Powerful' Sister Snubs South's New President

Kim Yo Jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, has dismissed the possibility of communicating with South Korea. She noted that her government has no interest in talks with South Korea's new liberal government, despite diplomatic gestures from Seoul.

This marks the regime's first official response to South Korea's newly inaugurated President Lee Jae Myung, who assumed office in June. Kim Yo Jong has emerged as a key figure in Pyongyang's opaque political system, with many wondering how powerful she is.

Snubbing South Korea's Diplomatic Efforts

President Lee's administration has made several moves aimed at restoring inter-Korean relations. This included halting anti-Pyongyang loudspeaker broadcasts, restricting propaganda balloon launches, and repatriating North Koreans who drifted south in boats.

Notably, Kim Yo Jong has acknowledged these as 'sincere efforts' to develop ties. However, she said they are overshadowed by their continued cooperation with the US.

She criticised 'their blind trust' in their alliance, condemning their planned joint military exercises as provocations. The upcoming military drills were seen as an invasion rehearsal by North Korea.

There's also the matter of Kim Jong Un's revisions to North Korea's constitution in 2024. He cemented South Korea as a permanent enemy, removing the long-running state goal of a peaceful Korean unification.

Experts have said that Kim is aiming to guard against the South's cultural influence to bolster his family's rule. However, others have also said that Kim desires legal room, justifying military action against Seoul. Framing South Korea as a foreign adversary opposed to a unification partner makes them a target for nuclear weapons practice.

Talks with North Korea have been on the decline since 2019. This issue concerned negotiations over nuclear diplomacy between Kim and Trump, which fell over international sanctions. Since then, Pyongyang has focused on expanding their nuclear arsenal.

This opposes President Donald Trump's claims of his personal relationship with North Korea's Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un. While Trump expressed the desire to communicate, North Korea has yet to respond to any overtures.

About Kim Yo Jong

She is the younger sister of North Korea's Supreme Leader, Kim Jong Un. At the time of writing, she is currently 37 years old. She attended public school in Berne, Switzerland as a teenager, just like her older brothers.

Kim Yo Jong would also graduate with a degree in computer science. Afterwards, she was promoted to Politburo of the Workers' Party of Korea in 2017. She's risen in prominence since international attention was brought to her in 2018.

That year, she was the first member of the Kim dynasty to visit South Korea. She attended as part of the delegation for the Winter Olympics, where North and South Korea competed as one team.

The year also saw her working alongside her brother towards international diplomacy. She accompanied him in meetings with other world leaders like Moon Jae In, Xi Jinping, and Donald Trump.

After these appearances, she has had more roles in politics. This was apparent in April 2020, when Kim Jong Un was absent from the public eye. His supposed disappearance prompted health concerns, and Kim Yo Jong was touted to succeed his rule.