Kim Jong-un's aunt makes 1st public appearance in 6 years

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un attends a Lunar New Year performance with family members and high-ranking officials at the Samjiyon Theater in Pyongyang, Saturday, in this footage aired by the state-run Korean Central Television the following day. From left are Kim, his wife Ri Sol-ju, aunt Kim Kyong-hui, sister Kim Yo-jong and Jo Yong-won, a close aide to the leader. Yonhap

By Jung Da-min

Kim Kyong-hui, the aunt of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and a once-influential figure in the country's leadership, has made her first public appearance in six years, quashing rumors that she had been killed or sent into exile. She had been out of the public eye since her husband Jang Song-thaek was executed in December 2013.

According to North Korea's state-run Korean Central News Agency, Sunday, the North Korean leader had attended a Lunar New Year performance the day before at the Samjiyon Theater in Pyongyang with his family members and high-ranking officials including his wife Ri Sol-ju, aunt Kim Kyong-hui, sister Kim Yo-jong, the country's de facto second-in-command Choe Ryong-hae and other top officials Ri Il-hwan, Jo Yong-won and Hyon Song-wol.

The fact that Kim Kyong-hui's name was listed after Choe's, in particular, raised speculations that she might have assumed a new role in the country's leadership, as North Korean state media typically names officials in order of rank.

North Korea watchers say that Kim's appearance with his family members seems to be aimed at solidifying his legitimacy by highlighting blood ties following his announcement of a major policy shift at the four-day Fifth Plenary Meeting of the Seventh Central Committee of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea, in a move to strengthen internal solidarity among political leaders.

Born as the youngest child of North Korea's founding President Kim Il-sung and his second wife Kim Jong-suk, Kim Kyong-hui (born 1946) was their only daughter. The couple had two sons, Kim Jong-il and Kim Pyong-il. After Kim Jong-il succeeded his father as the leader of the country, Kim Kyong-hui held sway over the country's major economic projects together with her husband Jang.

North Korea watchers say Kim Jong-un's appearance with his aunt might also suggest that Kim was trying to ward off criticism for his role in the events that led to the execution of his uncle.