Kim Jong-un's sister speculated to lead delegation to South
By Yi Whan-woo
Kim Yo-jong
Choe Ryong-hae
Speculation is rampant over who will lead North Korea’s delegation to the PyeongChang Winter Olympics, if realized, after its leader Kim Jong-un expressed his wish to dispatch a delegation, Monday.
Diplomatic sources said Tuesday that Kim may consider his right-hand man Choe Ryong-hae or his younger sister Kim Yo-jong on the list of candidates to lead the delegation.
The sources pointed out the dictator used the term “delegation” over “athletes’ team,” because he wants to send a high-profile politician, in addition to sports officials, to visit South Korea as his special envoy.
“The two Koreas may be able to have politically meaningful contact if Kim sends his aide,” a source said.
Among the candidates, Choe recently emerged as the repressive state’s “No. 2 man,” following the downfall of Hwang Pyong-so, who used to be the North Korean military’s second-in-command.
Choe chaired Pyongyang’s National Sports Guidance Committee and accompanied North Korean athletes during the 2016 Summer Olympics in Brazil.
He and Hwang also joined the closing ceremony of the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon.
Kim Yo-jong was promoted to the top political post suddenly. In October, she became a member of the political bureau of North Korea’s ruling Workers’ Party.
Kim Yong-nam, the chairman of North Korea’s rubber-stamp parliament, and Choe Hwi, who replaced Choe Ryong-hae on the country’s sports committee, may also come to PyeongChang, too.