Mystery woman spotted in public following North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un – Reuters

The woman, who has been tentatively identified as dictator Kim Sol-song’s half-sister, was filmed watching over North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un at several recent engagements.

A mystery woman has been spotted following North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un amid growing speculation that another member of her family has entered the public eye.

The enigmatic woman, who has been tentatively identified as Kim Sol-song – the dictator’s half-sister, has been filmed watching him at several recent engagements.

She appears to be in her 30s or 40s, wears glasses, and carries a large purse – possibly for items the bully might need in an emergency, such as medicine.

The woman was also spotted near Kim Jong-un’s Mercedes and was seen delivering his speech to him at a large political rally in February.

Michael Madden, a leading expert on North Korea’s elite, suggested she could be part of the leader’s inner circle.

“We don’t know what job or function this individual performs,” ​​he said.

“But because she was seen leaving Kim Jong-un’s personal car at an event, it’s reasonable and safe to assume that she works directly for him in his executive office.

“Kim Jong-un has four or five people – men and women – who work for him as administrative and personal assistants.

“This woman could be his private secretary.”

If the woman in question is Kim Sol-song, 47, she brings a wealth of experience to the role.

She served former leader Kim Jong-il – who fathered herself and Kim Jong-un – as events director before his death in 2011.

Mr Madden – who runs the North Korea Leadership Watch website – called it a “critical” post.

He said: “This involves coordinating the leader’s schedule, security arrangements, protocol and press coverage requirements, etc.

“In a political culture like North Korea’s, it’s a pretty critical job because that individual controls what elite North Korean citizens have access to the leader – at least for public events.”

Kim Sol-song is also said to have served Kim Il-sung – his grandfather and the country’s founding leader – as a foreign language interpreter.

Other roles within the regime’s propaganda and defense departments have been attributed to him by some sources.

Mr Madden added: “When Kim Jong-un took over the leadership ten years ago, she was an elite political supporter and provided effective support to his succession and transition.”

The leader’s own sister, Kim Yo-jong, already has a public role in the North Korean regime.

Kim Sol-song, however, has so far avoided the spotlight – although Mr Madden said that did not necessarily diminish his influence.

He said, “Kim Sol-song has never been a public figure in North Korean media and political culture.

“Unlike other political cultures around the world, a North Korean elite does not necessarily need a public profile to assert its power or influence.

“But it would certainly be quite fascinating if she were to step into a public role and think about the internal dynamics behind this kind of movement.”

The South Korea-based website NK News, which monitors events in North Korea, suggested that Kim Sol-song could be the mystery woman in a new article.

But Mr Madden urged caution until the woman’s true identity can be confirmed.

He said: “When we look at North Korea, Kim Sol-song is one of those people and lines of inquiry where the news landscape is more smoke-marked than real-fire.

“We don’t know if this woman in the events of the past week is her – it’s just speculation.”

Read more

Read more