Kim Jong-un often has a woman next to him, who looks like him and is trusted by him.
This year, when Putin visited North Korea, the woman also appeared in the North Korean delegation and shook hands with Putin.
The "Princess" of the Core Center
On June 19, the DPRK held a grand welcoming ceremony for Putin in Kim Il Sung Square. Kim Jong-un waited at the door in advance, and when Putin got out of the car, Kim Jong-un stepped forward to shake Putin's hand, and then the two walked into the square together.
Putin shook hands with the North Korean delegation one by one, and one woman in the delegation caught everyone's attention: Kim Jong-un's sister, Kim Yo-jong.
The presence of Kim Yo-jong-neng at the reception of the Russian delegation was enough to show that she was at the center of North Korean power, and some media reported that she would become the "second-in-command of North Korea."
According to media reports, Kim Yo-jong was seen at Kim Jong-il's funeral, but the North Korean media did not report on her, so no one noticed Kim Yo-jong, and everyone's focus was on Kim Kyung-hee and Jang Song-thaek and others.
Why hasn't Kim Yo-jong been specifically reported in the early years? Could it be that she is not in politics?
All information about the North Korean leader, including information on family members, should be classified as top secret in North Korea, unless it is officially released by North Korea, otherwise the outside world can only speculate. South Korea is the biggest "North Korean conjecture," and if there is any disturbance in North Korea, South Korea will certainly hear about it.
In 2014, Kim Yo-jong was officially introduced by North Korean state media for the first time, and it was only then that everyone confirmed that she was Kim Jong-un's sister.
However, Kim Yo-jong entered politics very early, according to the data, in 2009, Kim Yo-jong entered the Workers' Party of Korea, in 2011, some media pointed out that she worked in the North Korean Organization and Guidance Department, and in 2013 became the head of the department's activities section, and is directly responsible for all the activities of Kim Jong-un, and can be regarded as Kim Jong-un's secretary.
Since this year, Kim Yo-jong has gradually appeared in the North Korean media camera more and more, and it was not until 2014 that the North Korean media officially introduced her.
Since then, Kim Yo-jong has followed his brother Kim Jong-un to frequent inspections or attend events.
At first, everyone thought she was just a secretary, but an event made people realize that Kim Yo-jong is more than just a secretary.
In 2015, Kim Jong-un was scheduled to inspect a defense squadron at a forward post on the east coast of North Korea, which involved the core secrets of the North Korean military.
According to the pictures and text information released by the North Korean media, when Kim Jong-un inspected the defense squadron, Kim Yo-jong accompanied him throughout the whole process, and participated in a group photo at the end. The visit made people realize that Kim Yo-jong is not just a secretary, she may have some power in her hands. Why?
In North Korea, the group photo session of the leaders is generally not allowed to participate in the entourage, especially the group photo in the core inspection itinerary such as the front army is very special, and Kim Yo-jong was able to participate in the final group photo, which is enough to prove that she is in a central position in North Korea.
So, how big is Kim Yo-jong's power?
North Korean "diplomat"
In 2018, Kim Jong-un put Kim Yo-jong in charge of affairs related to South Korea and the United States, and also asked her to take the North Korean delegation to South Korea to participate in the Winter Olympics.
Relations between the DPRK and the ROK have always been a major focus in international bilateral relations, and if Kim Yo-jong is not capable, Kim Jong-un will probably not let her "play".
Kim Yo-jong lived up to expectations, and her image as a gentle messenger penetrated into the hearts of the South Korean people, making everyone feel more favorable about North Korea. Treat this North Korean "princess" with great respect.
In April of the same year, Kim Jong-un, accompanied by Kim Yo-jong and others, met with then-South Korean President Moon Jae-in. During the greeting between the two heads of state, Moon Jae-in suddenly pointed to Kim Yo-jong and said, "Vice Minister Kim has become a star in our South Korea."
Hearing this, Kim Yo-jong's face turned slightly red, but this sentence did not affect her follow-up work, and she still worked hard to contribute to inter-Korean relations.
When Kim Jong-un and Trump were talking in Singapore, Kim Yo-jong's eyes were always on his brother Kim Jong-un, pulling out the chair for him, and taking out a pen from his pocket and putting it in Kim Jong-un's hand.
When Kim Jong-un signed the "Joint Statement of the DPRK-US Leaders' Meeting in Singapore," he used a fountain pen prepared by Kim Yojong. This reveals the message that Kim Yo-jong can be both a diplomat and a secretary to Kim Jong-un, whom Kim attaches great importance to.
But it would be a big mistake to think that Kim Yo-jong is just a diplomat who blushes, and Kim Yo-jong also has a tough side, and she and Kim Jong-un have a tacit understanding to perfectly demonstrate the "dual-track tactics".
"Dual-track tactics"
The "dual-track tactic" refers to the silence of the North Korea's top leader and the strong voices of other senior officials to create a "spacious" space for North Korea to communicate.
At a time when relations between the United States and South Korea were drifting apart, Kim Yo-jong was the official who spoke strongly.
In 2020, South Korea distributed some leaflets with fierce content to North Korea, which instantly strained inter-Korean relations.
Kim Yo-jong had asked South Korea on June 4 to take action to stop dropping leaflets, or else North Korea would take a series of measures.
It may be because Kim Yo-jong has appeared as a "moderate messenger" before, and South Korea has not taken it seriously.
Nine days later, Kim Yo-jong again told South Korea that "if South Korea does not take action, North Korea will take the next phase of action against South Korea, and in the near future, South Korea will see the 'useless inter-Korean liaison office' collapse into ruins." South Korea remains unheeded.
On June 16, the inter-Korean liaison office, which symbolizes "inter-Korean friendship," was blown up, and the United States, South Korea, and other countries reacquainted themselves with Kim Jong-un's sister, Kim Yo-jong, who dared to speak and do.
As relations between the DPRK, the United States and South Korea have stiffened, Kim Yo-jong's remarks to North Korea and the United States have become more and more blunt.
In February last year, Kim Yo-jong told South Korea, "South Korea had better think about what kind of disaster it would eventually incur if it pretended to be very 'brave' and recklessly meddling in things like it is now." Because they are fools, we will not aim ICBMs at Seoul."
Kim Yo-jong also warned the Biden administration in 2021, saying that "if you want to sleep soundly in the next four years, don't create an incident that makes you "unable to sleep" at the beginning."
Kim Yo-jong's outstanding work ability has won Kim Jong-un's recognition, and she has also become Kim Jong-un's right-hand man, and she is the "No. 2 man" in North Korea that should not be underestimated.
References :
[1] Overseas Network "Sister Kim Yo-jong: A Person Who Can Influence and Calm Kim Jong-un's Mood" 20180709
[2] CCTV "North Korean Leader's Family Members Will Set Foot in South Korea for the First Time, Kim Jong-un's Sister's Resume is Extraordinary, News+" 20180209