Kim Yo-jong, sister of Kim Jong-un, continues her unstoppable moves. She threatens USA and South Korea instead of Kim Jong-un, and took the lead in supporting the people during the epidemic in North Korea. In the male-dominated North Korean bureaucratic society, the activities of a young woman were enough to attract public attention, and she, along with her brother Kim Jong-un, became the most famous North Korean politician both inside North Korea and around the world.

However, Kim Yo-jong reminds me of Kim Gyeong-hee, Kim Jong-il's sister. They have a lot in common. These are women of the so-called 'Paektu bloodline', raised in the special interest of their fathers, the leaders of North Korea, and studied abroad. Also, as an adult, they held key positions in the core of the Workers' Party of NK based on their special relationship with brothers, who succeeded fathers as leaders of North Korea.

However, unlike Kim Gyeong-hee, Kim Yo-jung has established herself as 'No.2 in North Korea' since Kim Jong-un is healthy. Also she visited Seoul on behalf of her brother in 2018. Then, if Kim Jong-un, who has various health risks such as obesity, excessive drinking, and a family history of heart disease, dies suddenly without deciding on a successor, can Kim Yo-jung succeed her brother as the new leader of North Korea?

I think, it is almost impossible. As the saying goes 'There are not two suns in the sky, nor two sovereigns', no matter how close a family is, power cannot be shared. If Kim Yo-jong becomes the leader after Kim Jong-un dies, his wife, Ri Sol-ju, and children will have to live as 'invisible people' in North Korea. Because Kim Yo-jung would not be satisfied with the role of a 'temporary agent' to briefly assume power from her brother and return it to her nephew.

Naturally, Kim Yo-jong would want to pass the power on to her own children. In this case. Ri Sol-ju, and her children would have to live in hiding in North Korea, drift abroad, or die for unknown reasons. There are examples of North Korean leaders purging their brothers and relatives to consolidate their position. In particular, Kim Jong-un even killed his brother and uncle in the early days of his power.

There is no way that Kim Jong-un and Ri Sol-ju are unaware of such a harsh reality. Kim Jong-un and Kim Yo-jung are close enough to study abroad together as children, but they have no choice but to fight without concessions about the future of their children. Given his own health condition, Kim Jong-un is likely to hasten the succession process to his children and gradually weaken Kim Yo-jong's power. If this is not feasible, Ri Sol-ju will mobilize all her personal connections with her legitimacy to protect herself and her children. And Kim Yo-jong will try to use her influence to protect herself and her family.

What do you think will happen to Kim Yo-jung after Kim Jong-un's death? Will she become the leader of North Korea herself? Or will she a victim to another power struggle?

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