Hyong Song-wol: Kim Jong-un’s popstar ex takes over sister Kim Yo-jong's duties as 'number 2' while wife vanishes
Kim Jong-un's feared sister Kim Yo-jong is rumored to have been replaced by the North Korean dictator's popstar ex. According to The Sun, Kim's little sister escalated to political heights "too quickly for some top officials' liking." This comes amid reports that Kim's wife Ri Sol-ju has not been spotted in public since January. According to some, she might have given birth to the couple's fourth child.
43-year-old Hyong Song-wol, frontwoman of the Moranbong Band, is said to have shared a brief relationship with Kim, who is now 36. According to the report, the North Korean supreme leader dated the musician more than a decade ago, when he had just returned after studying in Switzerland. However, his father did not approve of their relationship and they parted ways.
That said, she is apparently back on the scene and carrying out duties previously performed by Kim Yo-Jong. The Korean People's Army marched through Pyongyang, the nation's capital, in a show of military prowess on October 10. Hyong was spotted at the event escorting dignitaries to their seats and handling flowers offered to Kim Jong-un, a role previously reserved by his younger sister. The Times reported that Kim Yo-jong, meanwhile, was seated with lower-ranking officials.
The Moranbong Band, led by Hyong, is an all-girl pop group that was put together by Kim Jong-un himself. The band has since delivered chart-topping hits including 'Excellent Horse-Like Lady', 'I Love Pyongyang' and 'She is a Discharged Soldier'. Kim's glamorous ex is reportedly also a member of the central committee of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea — chaired by the supreme leader himself. Of late, Hyong has been appearing a lot in public as Kim Yo-jong seems to have taken a step back from political life. The formidable sibling of the North Korean dictator was touted to take over the regime amid rumors that her brother had fallen seriously ill or even died, The Sun reported.
Kim Yo-jong had participated in a series of high-profile, international events between 2018 and 2019 — including the 2018 Winter Olympics and a summit with President Donald Trump the following year. Rumors swirled suggesting the 32-year-old would take her brother's place after he failed to show up at his late grandad's birthday celebrations in April — reportedly the most important day in the North Korean calendar.
However, Kim Yo-jong has since dropped out of the public eye. Rachel Minyoung Lee, a former North Korea analyst for the US government, suggested that the media was insinuating there was "more" to her role than just being the leader's sister after she was described by some outlets as "Kim's number two." Meanwhile, Hyong Song-wol — the woman who allegedly usurped her position — was previously rumored to have been executed by firing squad in 2013 after sex tapes of herself and other performers went viral in the country. Nonetheless, she quashed rumors the following year after popping up to give a speech at the national creative workers' rally — where she reportedly promised the crowd she would "stoke up the flame for art and creative work" in the Hermit Kingdom.
Hyong is believed to be married to a high-ranking North Korean official and they have one child together. Notwithstanding, there are rumors that Kim and Hyong are still secretly seeing each other.