A former North Korean diplomat has provided rare details about the personal life of Kim Yo-jong, the powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. Ryu Hyun-woo, who was North Korea’s acting ambassador to Kuwait before defecting to South Korea in 2019, shared these revelations in an interview with the South Korean daily JoongAng Ilbo, offering a rare glimpse into the secretive lives of the Kim family, which is known for maintaining an incredibly private profile.
According to Ryu, Kim Yo-jong is married to a “tall and handsome” man, whose identity had previously been a subject of speculation. He also confirmed that two children seen in a recent photograph with her, which was released by North Korea’s state media, are likely to be her own. This is one of the very few times such intimate details of Kim Yo-jong’s family life have been disclosed, shedding light on the personal side of one of the most influential figures in North Korea’s leadership.
Ryu’s account is particularly significant as it comes from a senior former official who had direct knowledge of the inner workings of the North Korean regime. Ryu disclosed that he had met Kim Yo-jong’s family in 2014 during a visit to the tomb of Ko Yong-hui, the late mother of Kim Yo-jong and her brother Kim Jong-un. This revelation adds weight to his account, suggesting that his insights into the private life of the Kim family are based on firsthand experience.
Speculation about Kim Yo-jong’s marital status had started back in 2015 when she was photographed visiting an orphanage while wearing a ring on her left hand. This led to widespread rumors and media reports, which further suggested that she had married Choe Song, the son of Choe Ryong-hae, one of North Korea’s most powerful figures at the time. Choe Ryong-hae is a key member of the ruling Workers’ Party of Korea and has held numerous high-ranking positions within the North Korean government, making his son a suitable match for the influential Kim Yo-jong.
The recent confirmation from Ryu regarding Kim Yo-jong’s family life also provides more context to her increasing role within the North Korean government. Over the years, Kim Yo-jong has become one of the most visible and powerful figures in her brother’s administration, often representing the regime in high-profile diplomatic engagements and public appearances. However, despite her prominence, very few personal details about her life have been shared publicly. Ryu’s comments help to fill in some of the blanks about her private life, offering a rare insight into the woman behind the regime’s most important decisions.
This disclosure not only humanizes Kim Yo-jong but also reinforces the tightly controlled image of North Korea’s ruling family. By maintaining an air of mystery surrounding their personal lives, the Kim family has solidified its place as a key pillar of North Korean power, while also ensuring that its members remain distant and almost mythological figures to the outside world. Ryu’s revelations, however, provide a glimpse behind the curtain of one of the most secretive families in the world.