On January 3,the North Korean state media published a rare footage of Kim Yo jong, the influential sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, with two children.

The state media footage captured Kim Yo Jong holding a young boy’s hand as they, along with a girl, attended North Korea’s New Year art performance. After the video was published online, it raised many questions and suspicion that the two children, a boy and a girl, were hers.

While the North has never officially disclosed details about her marital status or family, South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS) is investigating whether the children are hers.

The NIS said that they are conducting a detailed analysis while keeping the possibility open. The agency added that it had previously gathered intelligence suggesting that Ms.KIm might have children, and the ages of the children in the footage align with their earlier findings.

While the event appeared to be one where attendees were expected to bring family members, but it described Ms.Kim's appearance with the children as "unusual."

The same state media footage also featured Kim Jong Un with his teenage daughter, known as Ju Ae. Her appearances in official events have been interpreted as efforts to project the ruling family’s continuity.

Propaganda or Transparency?

Many are speculating that move could be more of a propoganda aimed at changing the perspective that the world has on North Korean elites and making them look more humanized.

Since 2022, North Korea state media has been deliberately showing key officials from Kim Jung Un's inner circle attendign events or disadter refief efforts with their families, in an effort to erase the common perception of the North Korean leaders being heartless dictators.

Kim Yo Jong’s Prominent Role in the Regime

Born in 1988 to Kim Jong Il and his third known partner, Ko Yong Hui, Kim Yo Jong is one of three siblings. Educated in Switzerland alongside her brother Kim Jong Un, she has risen rapidly in the regime, becoming one of its most influential figures.

In 2015, the NIS reported that she was presumed to be expecting a child, and in 2018, the agency noted she appeared to be pregnant during her visit to South Korea for the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics. Despite the lack of official information, the new images of her with children may indicate that Kim Yo Jong has been a mother for some time.