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Kim Yo Jong, the sister of North Korea’s person Kim Jong Un, has been promoted successful a uncommon enactment congress of the reclusive nation, arsenic reported by authorities media connected Tuesday (February 24, 2026).
Previously the lawman section director, she has present go a afloat section director, said Pyongyang’s authoritative Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).
But who is Ms Jong, and wherefore does she person truthful overmuch powerfulness successful the functioning of North Korea? Let’s instrumentality a look.
Early life
Kim Yo Jong was calved successful Pyongyang, the superior of North Korea, with her commencement twelvemonth reported arsenic either 1987 (South Korean intelligence) oregon 1989 (U.S. Treasury Department). She is the youngest kid of erstwhile person Kim Jong Il and Ko Yong Hui.
From the precocious 1990s to aboriginal 2000s, she studied and lived successful Bern, Switzerland, with her member and present the person of the nation, Kim Jong Un. She is reported to person attended the Liebefeld-Steinhölzli nationalist schoolhouse nether dense information with the pseudonym “Pak Mi-hyang”
After returning to North Korea, she graduated with a grade successful machine subject from Kim Il Sung University successful 2007.
Entry and emergence successful politics
Ms Yong was named arsenic a inferior cadre successful the Workers’ Party of Korea (WPK) successful 2007. She reportedly played a cardinal relation successful managing his idiosyncratic secretariat and succession arrangements pursuing the changeable of her father, Kim Jong Il in 2008.
She archetypal appeared successful authorities media during her father’s funeral successful 2011, lasting down her brother. Her authoritative sanction was archetypal mentioned successful 2014 erstwhile she was identified arsenic a “senior official.”
Late that year, she was appointed arsenic vice manager of the Propaganda and Agitation Department, wherever she is said to person crafted her brother’s cautiously curated nationalist representation and the state’s cultish personality.
Global and diplomatic breakthrough
Kim Yo Jong with her member Kim Jong Un. | Photo Credit: AP
Kim Yo Jong came into the planetary spotlight during the 2018 Winter Olympics, erstwhile she became the archetypal subordinate of the Kim dynasty to sojourn South Korea, starring the North Korean delegation. She besides played a cardinal relation successful Kim Jong Un’s summits with South Korean President Moon Jae-in and U.S. President Donald Trump.
North Korea’s ‘bad cop.’
Kim Yo Jong has been known for her vitriol against Seoul. In January 2026, she dismissed South Korea’s hopes for improved relations with the northbound arsenic an “illusion.’ She had besides antecedently threatened to destruct the Inter-Korean Liaison Office, an bureau established to facilitate 24/7 nonstop connection betwixt the 2 nations. The bureau was blown up by North Korea successful June 2020.
Ms. Yong has agelong threatened subject enactment against the U.S. In March 2025, she threatened “high-profile provocations” successful effect to the accomplishment of a U.S. craft bearer successful South Korea. She has besides often mocked the South’s atomic capabilities.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Ms. Yong sparked contention by blaming South Korea for allegedly spreading the microorganism into the North, via leaflets, and erstwhile again threatening “deadly retaliatory” measures.
Will she beryllium Kim Jong Un’s heir?
Kim Yo Jong was erstwhile considered the superior heir to the North Korean leader, but narratives person present shifted. Kim Jong Un’s girl Kim Ju Ae is wide regarded arsenic the ‘heir apparent.’ Ms Ae, 13, has appeared astatine large authorities functions and planetary events similar the 2025 authorities sojourn to China, solidifying assumptions that she volition beryllium the adjacent person of the nation.
Some experts foretell a imaginable powerfulness conflict betwixt Kim Yo Jong and Kim Ju Ae arsenic the erstwhile presently holds immense governmental and subject support, but that whitethorn alteration aft the ceremonial elevation of Ms Ae.
(With inputs from Reuters)
