He was at Kim’s side last week during a huge outdoor concert and was also seen carrying envelopes in a speech to the country’s parliament, the Supreme People’s Assembly, in which Kim vowed never to give up nuclear weapons. North Korea’s tightly controlled state media has been publishing photos or videos showing the woman — sometimes next to Kim and sometimes far in the background — for months, but has never identified her. The US-based website NK News, which reports closely and critically on North Korea, first noticed it in February and has been following it ever since. “She was usually seen carrying a bag, which probably contains items needed by the North Korean leader, such as a phone, cigarettes or medicine,” the website said. She was estimated to be in her 30s or 40s and speculated that she might even be one of Kim’s relatives. The North Korean leader is believed to have at least two half-sisters, Kim Sol-song and Kim Chun-song, born in the 1970s. NK News said Kim Sol-song, the older half-sister, may have “remained active in the party leadership behind the scenes.” Very little is known about Kim Chun-song. The Kim dynasty, founded in 1948 by Kim Il-sung, has ruled with an iron fist for three generations and rarely appoints women to senior positions. Kim Jong Un, however, has allowed a few women into powerful positions, both official and unofficial. More prominent is his sister, Kim Yo-jong, 34, who has become the most important figure in the North Korean regime since her brother, often representing him internationally and is seen as the chief propagandist. He is rumored to be the mastermind behind Kim’s carefully crafted public image, both at home and abroad. This year, the supreme leader appointed the country’s first female foreign minister, Choe Son-hui, 57. He has also appeared with Hyon Song-wol, 44, a pop star rumored to be Kim’s ex-girlfriend, whose band sing odes to the leader while wearing military uniforms. In 2018, Kim gave his wife, Ri Sol-ju, the title of “respectable first lady,” which analysts said was a major boost to her political standing.
