A recent television broadcast showing Kim Yo Jong, sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, walking with two children has sparked widespread interest among North Korean citizens.
A source in Pyongyang told Daily NK yesterday that footage from the New Year’s celebration broadcast on Korean Central Television, showing Kim with two children outside the May Day Stadium, has become a major topic of discussion among Pyongyang residents.
“After Kim Jong Un’s daughter was first revealed in 2022, seeing Kim Yo Jong appear with her children has drawn significant attention,” the source said.
Pyongyang residents are treating the boy and girl seen with Kim as her children, though this hasn’t been officially confirmed.
“People are surprised by how things are changing,” the source said. “During Kim Il Sung’s and Kim Jong Il’s eras, revealing family members was considered taboo. Some say this makes the leadership seem more relatable.”
A resident of the city’s Central District said, “It’s surprising to see Kim Yo Jong’s children revealed so suddenly after the Supreme Leader’s daughter. It feels more approachable compared to previous generations.”
Some people suggest the event emphasized family values, while others speculate it was intended to project a warmer image of leadership.
However, some question whether the children, who appeared in casual clothing, are actually Kim’s or were present for other purposes.
The source reported that party officials are taking a notably flexible approach to the public discussion, neither confirming nor denying the children’s identity. “They’re telling people to observe quietly rather than discuss it openly, since nothing has been officially announced,” the source said.
South Korea’s National Intelligence Service said it is “carefully analyzing the possibility” that the children are Kim’s, considering previously known information about her family.
January 08, 2025 at 07:05AM
by DailyNK(North Korean Media)