Mysterious woman spotted with Kim Jong-un at rallies could be his half-sister

Speculation is mounting over the identity of an anonymous woman who has been seen alongside Kim Jong-un at several recent engagements.

The woman – who has made increasingly frequent appearances next to the North Korean leader – has been tentatively identified as his half-sister Kim Sol-song.

South Korea’s Unification Ministry said it had no concrete information about her but is keeping an eye on her movements.

The woman attended a parade held in Pyongyang Square today, but was not wearing a badge bearing the portraits of founding North Korean leaders Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il as is required by officials and citizens.

She has also been spotted near Jong-un’s Mercedes, as well as handing him papers during a speech at a political rally.

A leading expert on North Korea’s elite suggested the woman may be part of the dictator’s inner circle with Jong-un’s sister Kim Yo-jong already serving in a public-facing role within the Workers’ Party of Korea.

‘We do not know what job or function this individual discharges,’ North Korean Leadership Watch’s Michael Madden said.

‘But because she was observed leaving Kim Jong-un’s personal car at an event, it is a reasonable and safe assumption that she works directly for him in his executive office.

‘Kim Jong-un has four or five individuals – men and women – who work as administrative and personal assistants to him. This woman might be his private secretary.’

Sol-sung, 47, has served under both her dad Jong-il and granddad Il-sung, acting in the ‘critical’ position of event director for the former until his death in 2011.

‘It involves coordinating the leader’s schedule, his security arrangements, protocol and press coverage requirements,’ Mr Madden said.

‘In a political culture like North Korea’s, it is a pretty critical job as this individual controls what elite North Korean citizens have access to the leader – as least to public events.’

For her granddad, the country’s ruling founder, Sol-sung worked as an interpreter though it is also believed she may have worked within the defence ministry.

Mr Madden said: ‘When Kim Jong-un assumed the leadership 10 years ago, she was a core elite political supporter, and provided his succession and transition with effectual support.

‘Sol-sung has never been a public figure in North Korean media and political culture.

‘It would certainly be quite fascinating if she were to transition to a public role, and to ponder the internal dynamics behind that kind of move.’

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