Kim Yo Jong Disappears from Rodong Sinmun: Not Weakening Influence but Sign of Expanded Authority

It has become increasingly difficult to find Kim Yo Jong, director of the Workers’ Party General Affairs Department, in recent issues of North Korea’s official newspaper Rodong Sinmun this year. Her appearances have only been visible when she accompanies North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, and even then, the frequency has decreased. When she does appear in public activities, she is often positioned at the very back of the group, maintaining a low-profile presence.

However, analysts said on April 28 that this does not reflect a weakening of her political standing, but rather suggests she has been granted greater authority by the country’s top leadership.

On February 27, during a report on Kim Jong Un presenting new rifles as special gifts to senior party and military officials at the Workers’ Party Central Committee headquarters, Kim Yo Jong was placed at the far left corner of the photo, appearing far from the symbolic status associated with the “Baekdu bloodline.”

A similar pattern continued in March. On March 8, during photos of a provincial equestrian competition held for International Women’s Day, she was placed at the far right edge, making her face difficult to identify.

On March 14, during Arbor Day tree-planting events at Saebyeol Street pond park, Kim Jong Un and his daughter Ju Ae were placed at the center of the images alongside senior officials, while Kim Yo Jong again appeared at the far right edge.

On March 15, during the Supreme People’s Assembly election coverage at the Sunchon Coal Mine, Kim Yo Jong was barely visible in a small corner of the photographs showing Kim Jong Un casting his vote.

In the past, Kim Yo Jong was consistently visible during Kim Jong Un’s field inspections and major events as one of his closest aides. Regardless of her title—whether vice department director or first vice department director of the Propaganda and Agitation Department—she also played a key role in North Korea’s external affairs, frequently issuing statements on inter-Korean and U.S.-related issues.

At one point, her political standing was considered strong enough that some analysts speculated she could become a successor in the event of Kim Jong Un’s absence.

Some observers say the way North Korean media portrays her public activities has changed alongside the emergence of Kim Jong Un’s daughter Ju Ae, widely regarded as a potential successor. This shift is interpreted as an effort to emphasize that only direct descendants of the “Baekdu bloodline” can be involved in the succession structure, excluding other relatives. Others, however, argue that this change in media portrayal may itself have originated from Kim Yo Jong, who previously worked in propaganda and agitation.

While some interpret her frequent placement at the edge or back of official photographs as a sign of declining political influence, others argue her actual status has been rising.

She was promoted to director of the Workers’ Party General Affairs Department following the 9th Party Congress in February and has continued to actively issue external statements, including on inter-Korean relations. In March, she issued a statement criticizing Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s remarks regarding a potential Japan–North Korea summit, a rare move for her to address Japan directly.

A North Korea source said, “Just because Kim Yo Jong is not visible in Rodong Sinmun photos does not mean her power is declining,” adding that “her role in handling messages toward South Korea, the United States, and Japan is itself evidence of strong trust from Kim Jong Un.”

Intelligence authorities have also previously assessed that Kim Yo Jong has at times conducted independent field inspections separate from Kim Jong Un’s public appearances, suggesting that her influence cannot be measured solely through isolated indicators.

There are also interpretations that she may serve as a key guardian figure during any future succession process involving Ju Ae or other successors.

Professor Im Eul-chul of Kyungnam University’s Institute for Far Eastern Studies said, “The placement of Kim Jong Un’s closest blood relative in the key administrative post of Party General Affairs Director is a long-term strategy to maintain the leadership of the Baekdu bloodline and manage the system of hereditary succession.”