By Kim Hyun-bin
Kim Yo-jong, the younger sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, has been seen alongside her brother and South Korean President Moon Jae-in at almost all of the two leaders' meetings.
She was constantly accompanying Kim Jong-un and also arranging and monitoring scheduled ceremonies
At Sunan International Airport in Pyongyang, Kim conducted a last minute check for a welcoming ceremony for Moon one-and-a-half hours before his arrival.
An hour later, she could be seen walking around the event venue. Wearing a black suit with a handbag and a smartphone in one hand, she walked across the red carpet and checked the lineup of troops and the North Koreanswho were part of the welcoming crowd.
After Moon deplaned, she followed closely behind him and first lady Kim Jung-sook, holding flowers for the first lady who received them from two young girls.
She also went to the Paekhwawon Guest House, where the President and first lady are staying, to check on preparations.
Many experts say Kim Yo-jongis one of Kim Jong-un's closest aides and an influential figure in the regime. She holds the title vice director of the Propaganda and Agitation Department of the Workers' Party of Korea. And she was the top North Korean figure to attend the 2018 PyeongChang Olympic Games held in February in Gangwon Province, South Korea. She was also by her brother's side during the first and second Korean summits.
USA Today reported that Kim Yo-jong's presence has helped revamp and remake the young dictator's rough image, which "reeks from?generations of cruel?authoritarianism."
However, some believe she does not have a crucial role in making important decisions but only accompanies Kim Jong-un to enhance his public image.
"Kim Yo-jong is not in a position to discuss key strategy with Kim Jong-un," Ken Gause, director of the International Affairs Group at CNA, told Radio Free Asia.
Gause said Kim Yo-jong is there to enhance her brother's public image and act as his personal secretary, while other senior officials of the Workers' Party of Korea, including Kim Yong-chol, are involved from a strategic standpoint.
Kim Yo-jong, the younger sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, has been seen alongside her brother and South Korean President Moon Jae-in at almost all of the two leaders' meetings.
She was constantly accompanying Kim Jong-un and also arranging and monitoring scheduled ceremonies
At Sunan International Airport in Pyongyang, Kim conducted a last minute check for a welcoming ceremony for Moon one-and-a-half hours before his arrival.
An hour later, she could be seen walking around the event venue. Wearing a black suit with a handbag and a smartphone in one hand, she walked across the red carpet and checked the lineup of troops and the North Koreanswho were part of the welcoming crowd.
After Moon deplaned, she followed closely behind him and first lady Kim Jung-sook, holding flowers for the first lady who received them from two young girls.
She also went to the Paekhwawon Guest House, where the President and first lady are staying, to check on preparations.
Many experts say Kim Yo-jongis one of Kim Jong-un's closest aides and an influential figure in the regime. She holds the title vice director of the Propaganda and Agitation Department of the Workers' Party of Korea. And she was the top North Korean figure to attend the 2018 PyeongChang Olympic Games held in February in Gangwon Province, South Korea. She was also by her brother's side during the first and second Korean summits.
USA Today reported that Kim Yo-jong's presence has helped revamp and remake the young dictator's rough image, which "reeks from?generations of cruel?authoritarianism."
However, some believe she does not have a crucial role in making important decisions but only accompanies Kim Jong-un to enhance his public image.
"Kim Yo-jong is not in a position to discuss key strategy with Kim Jong-un," Ken Gause, director of the International Affairs Group at CNA, told Radio Free Asia.
Gause said Kim Yo-jong is there to enhance her brother's public image and act as his personal secretary, while other senior officials of the Workers' Party of Korea, including Kim Yong-chol, are involved from a strategic standpoint.
.jpg/dims/resize/262/optimize)
.jpg/dims/resize/262/optimize)
