Seoul:
South Korea’s spy company mentioned Friday it was analysing uncommon state media footage exhibiting the highly effective sister of North Korean chief Kim Jong Un with two youngsters — saying they might be hers.
Key regime spokeswoman Kim Yo Jong was noticed with two children — a boy and a lady — whereas attending North Korea’s New 12 months artwork efficiency.
She was seen holding the boy’s hand because the three walked collectively.
The remoted North has by no means formally disclosed any details about Kim Yo Jong’s marital standing or youngsters, however Seoul’s spy company mentioned it was analyzing whether or not the kids within the state media footage have been hers.
“We’re conducting an in depth evaluation whereas holding the likelihood open,” it mentioned in a press release.
The Nationwide Intelligence Service mentioned they’d beforehand detected that Kim Yo Jong might need youngsters, and those she was photographed with have been within the appropriate age vary.
Seoul’s unification ministry informed AFP that the artwork efficiency occasion in Pyongyang is known to be one the place contributors are anticipated to accompany their relations, however mentioned it was “uncommon” to see Kim Yo Jong with youngsters.
State media footage additionally confirmed chief Kim along with his teenage daughter, referred to as Ju Ae.
Seoul-based specialist web site NK Information mentioned the discharge of the pictures may be a part of a “propaganda effort to humanise regime officers”.
“It additionally follows a development that began earlier in 2022 of exhibiting elite officers in Kim Jong Un’s interior circle arriving at particular occasions or donating catastrophe reduction with their spouses and relations,” it mentioned.
Kim Yo Jong has lengthy been amongst her brother’s closest lieutenants, and one of the crucial influential girls within the remoted regime.
Born in 1988, in line with the South Korean authorities, she is one among three youngsters born to Kim’s father and predecessor, Kim Jong Il, and his third recognized companion, former dancer Ko Yong Hui.
She was educated in Switzerland alongside her brother and rose quickly up the ranks as soon as he inherited energy after their father’s loss of life in 2011.
In April 2015, Seoul’s spy company mentioned that Kim Yo Jong was presumed to be giving beginning the next month.
Later, in 2018, the spy company within the South mentioned it was understood that Kim was pregnant throughout her go to to South Korea in February of that 12 months for the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics.
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