Now she is almost as prominent a symbol of North Korean despotism as the brother she often accompanies. The opacity of North Korea means that Mr Lee’s claims are often plausible rather than proven. Still, marshalling what is known about Ms Kim—a woman of such mystery that the North Korean state has never confirmed that she actually is Mr Kim’s sister—is worthwhile. Above all, it shows how Ms Kim and her brother learned the art of diplomacy from their father, Kim Jong Il. For now, the younger Mr Kim is fixated on military development, but history suggests he will one day want to talk.

Source: The North Africa Journal June 22, 2023 15:17 UTC