The Hated and the Dead

Kissinger said that ninety percent of politicians give the other ten percent a bad name. Each week, a guest and I discuss the life and legacy of one politician from recent times. Some are well-known, others obscure; all have left an indelible mark on our world, and often for the worse. Join me, Tom Leeman, in a journey through the corruptible and the controversial.

All Episodes

The Hated and the Dead

EP115: Kim Yo Jong

February 04, 2024 • Tom Leeman • Season 10

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.