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Kim Jong-un's sister makes first public appearance in months

Photographs emerging from the Hermit Kingdom have prompted speculation Kim Yo-jong recently gave birth

Rose Troup Buchanan

Friday 29 May 2015 14:02 BST

This is believed to be a picture of the real Kim Yo-kong, taken from North Korean television (KCNA)

The sister of North Korea’s dictator Kim Jong-un has reportedly reappeared in public after two months out of the public eye.

Kim Yo-jung, 28, was photographed accompanying her older brother as he inspected a tree nursery operated by the army, South Korea’s Yonhap news reported.

The South Korean news site claimed that images of Kim’s sister, appearing slimmer than her past appearances and wearing a knee-length black dress with a fur collar, had prompted speculation she had recently given birth to her first child.

Little is known about Kim’s sister, born to Kim Jong-il’s fourth wife Ko Yong-hui. South Korea’s intelligence agency claims she married a former classmate from Kim Il-sung University. Her baby was expected in May.

She was last seen in April when she accompanied her brother and inspected a construction project at Pyongyang airport.

North Korea's worst human rights abuses

Show all 11

1/11North Korea's worst human rights abuses

North Korea's worst human rights abuses

Starvation

A UN report said that policies leading to mass starvation in North Korea amounted to crimes against humanity. Deaths peaked during the 1990s North Korean famine.

Al Jazeera

North Korea's worst human rights abuses

Executions

Defence minister Hyon Yong Chol is believed to be the latest official executed after falling foul of Kim Jong-un. As well as gruesome public executions, thousands of people have been killed in state 'purges' and for alleged anti-state crimes

Getty

North Korea's worst human rights abuses

Torture

Torture is prevalent in prison camps, as well as in police and security service custody.

AP

North Korea's worst human rights abuses

Freedom of religion

American missionary Kenneth Bae was one of the many people detained after trying to practice their religion. The DPRK Constitution claims to protect freedom of religion but not if it as alleged of being used a a pretext for 'drawing in foreign forces or for harming the state and social order'. Christianity is frequently considered a political crime

North Korea's worst human rights abuses

Freedom of expression

All media is tightly-state controlled and expressing facts of opinions critical of the government or Juche ideology can lead to arrest and imprisonment. As well as being under extensive surveillance, people are encouraged to 'inform' on friends and neighbours

Getty

North Korea's worst human rights abuses

Freedom of thought

A UN report found that the 'DPRK operates an all-encompassing indoctrination machine which takes root from childhood to propagate an official personality cult and to manufacture absolute obedience to the Supreme Leader, effectively to the exclusion of any independent thought from the official ideology and state propaganda'

Reuters

North Korea's worst human rights abuses

Forced labour

Prisoners are subjected to forced labour in camps, including children as young as five. Some workers are also reportedly being sent abroad to fund the government's projects

AFP

North Korea's worst human rights abuses

Sexual discrimination

Although women are permitted to serve in the military, their role is restrained by the Juche ideology and the UN reports that 'discrimination against women remains pervasive in all aspects of society'

AP

North Korea's worst human rights abuses

Freedom of movement

Freedom of movement is severely restricted within North Korea and very few citizens are allowed to leave the country. Immigrants found in China can be forcible repatriated and punished on their return. The right for foreigners to enter is also severely restricted.

Reuters

North Korea's worst human rights abuses

Prison camps

Many of the worst abuses reported take place at prison camps, some specifically for political crimes. The camps officially do not exist but have been photographed using satellite. Inmates are 'forcibly disappeared' and usually imprisoned until death

REUTERS

North Korea's worst human rights abuses

Reproductive rights

Forced abortions have been reported for imprisoned women, often after being raped by guards. Mothers and babies frequently die in childbirth because of a lack of adequate care, often delivering babies unaided at home.

AP

It has been suggested Kim, who studied in Switzerland at the same time as her brother, is Kim’s closest confidante, working alongside him as deputy director of the Worker’s Party.

The position was formerly held by her uncle, Jang Song-thaek, who was publicly executed for crimes against the state two years ago.

Her role reportedly consists of highlighting similarities between her brother and their grandfather Kim Il-sung, who remains an integral part of state propaganda.

A spokesperson at North Korea’s London embassy declined to comment on the photographs.

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