The Hated and the Dead

EP115: Kim Yo Jong

February 04, 2024 Tom Leeman Season 10
The Hated and the Dead
EP115: Kim Yo Jong
Show Notes

Kim Yo Jong is the younger sister of the Supreme Leader of North Korea, Kim Jong Un. 
Since Jong Un’s accession to power in 2011, he has placed his sister into positions of increasing importance domestically and increasing prominence internationally.

The question is: is Jong Un following the advice of Michael Corleone, keeping his friends close but his enemies closer? Or is there genuine affection between Jong Un and Yo Jong? Furthermore, does Yo Jong have aspirations beyond playing second fiddle?

My guest today is the author of a recent book about Kim Yo Jong. He is South Korean scholar Sung-Yoon Lee. Yoon is a Fellow at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. His book is The Sister: The extraordinary story of Kim Yo Jong, the most powerful woman in North Korea, which has been released to critical acclaim.