Kim Jong-un's sister makes official public debut

Want China Times, Staff Reporter 2014-03-11

Kim Yo-jong stuffs the ballot box, literally and figuratively. (Internet photo)

Kim Yo-jong, the younger sister of North Korea's supreme leader Kim Jong-un, has made her official debut in state media.

The 26-year-old, wearing a black skirt suit, was shown on state television on Sunday alongside her brother as they made their votes at a polling station for North Korea's staged parliamentary election.

Not surprisingly, the 31-year-old Kim Jong-un received every single vote in his constituency, allowing him to add member of parliament to his other titles such as first secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea, first chairman of the National Defence Commission, supreme commander of the Korean People's Army, and chairman of the Central Military Commission.

"All the voters of the constituency took part in voting and 100% of them voted for Kim Jong-un," reported North Korea's KCNA news agency. "This is an expression of... people's absolute support and profound trust in supreme leader Kim Jong-un as they single-mindedly remain loyal to him, holding him in high esteem."

This was not Kim Yo-jong's first time on state television, as she had previously appeared in 2011 during the funeral of her father and former leader Kim Jong-il, as well as a number of "field guidance trips" alongside her brother since then. However, Sunday's outing is said to be different as she was officially listed by name and as a senior official for the first time. While her exact position is not clear, it is believed that she is the events director of her brother's Secretariat Office.

South Korean media analysts say that while North Korean parliamentary members don't possess any real power, the names that make the list will reflect the direction of Kim Jong-un's regime. As most of those in Kim's circle of power will end up in parliament, analysts are keeping an eye out for those who fail to be elected.

As for Kim Yo-jong, analysts believe she is being groomed to play a key supporting role for her brother in the same way that their aunt Kim Kyong-hui did for their father. However, Kim Yo-jong can only hope that her fate in no way resembles that of her aunt, whose husband Jang Song-taek was purged and executed for treason at the end of last year. Kim Kyong-hui has virtually disappeared since her husband's death, with most reports citing ill health as the main reason. Some analysts believe Kim Yo-jong could take over her aunt's current role as secretary for organisation of the Workers' Party of Korea.

Following Kim Jong-un's election success on March 9, the Rodong Sinmun, the mouthpiece of North Korea's ruling Workers's Party, continued to berate the United States for its "provocative and threatening" behavior in response to North Korea's missile tests. The article warned that there is a limit to North Korea's restraint and tolerance, and that if the US continues to engage in unjustified provocation then Pyongyang will be forced to launch a strong counterattack.

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