North and South Korea summit: The people Kim trusts the most
26 April 2018
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Image copyright Getty Images
North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un will be bringing an elite group of confidantes and advisers along with him when he crosses into South Korea.
The South say it has never hosted such a senior delegation from Pyongyang. This is the third inter-Korean summit, but this time it is also a prelude to a meeting between US President Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un. No sitting US president has ever met a North Korean leader.
So who does Kim trust the most as he heads into uncharted diplomatic waters?
Kim Yo-jong - increasingly powerful sister
The importance of Kim Yo-jong to her brother's master plan was made clear when she was made the ambassador for the recent Winter Olympics in the South, which is arguably where this all started.
Media captionWhat we've seen of Kim Yo-jong from North Korean media
At that point, she was thought to be the first immediate member of the Kim dynasty to visit the South since the Korean war ended in 1953.
She remains on a US sanctions list over alleged links to human rights abuses in North Korea, but was still wined and dined by South Korea's president and top officials.
She was the smiling face of the North Korean leadership at the Olympics, as South Korean media analysed her freckles and clothing - and speculated on whether she was pregnant.
But her power within the state is not to be underestimated, and analysts say that many of the ruthless decisions Mr Kim took were probably made with his sister by his side.
North Korean sister with a 'tomboy streak'
Kim's sister and North Korea's secret weapon
Kim Yong-nam - survivor of purges
The 90-year-old Kim Yong-nam has seen the rule of all three North Korean leaders in his career.
Unlike Kim Jong-un, he has travelled abroad on official visits. He went to Iran last summer to attend President Hassan Rouhani's inauguration ceremony for his second term.
His loyalty to the leadership has never been questioned and some have pointed out that his ability to survive purges is impressive.
"He makes no mistakes. That's why he could keep his high-level post in a country where political purges are common," South Korea's Yonhap news agency quoted one North Korean defector as saying.
What this 'casual' photo tells us about N Korea
Choe Hwi - North Korean cultural don
North Korea's sports minister is known for his relatively relaxed demeanour in his state media appearances and photo opportunities.
His first post of any significance was as a manager of the Sea of Blood opera troupe in the mid-1980s, according to the North Korea Leadership Watch blog.
He has spent most of his career in North Korea's arts sector and is even thought to have been involved in the establishment of Moranbong Band, a North Korean all-female pop group.
The breakthrough role of the Winter Olympics in North-South relations as well as recent cultural exchanges may account for his importance.
Six extraordinary facts about music in North Korea
North Korea's cheerleading charm offensive
26 April 2018
Share
Image copyright Getty Images
North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un will be bringing an elite group of confidantes and advisers along with him when he crosses into South Korea.
The South say it has never hosted such a senior delegation from Pyongyang. This is the third inter-Korean summit, but this time it is also a prelude to a meeting between US President Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un. No sitting US president has ever met a North Korean leader.
So who does Kim trust the most as he heads into uncharted diplomatic waters?
Kim Yo-jong - increasingly powerful sister
The importance of Kim Yo-jong to her brother's master plan was made clear when she was made the ambassador for the recent Winter Olympics in the South, which is arguably where this all started.
Media captionWhat we've seen of Kim Yo-jong from North Korean media
At that point, she was thought to be the first immediate member of the Kim dynasty to visit the South since the Korean war ended in 1953.
She remains on a US sanctions list over alleged links to human rights abuses in North Korea, but was still wined and dined by South Korea's president and top officials.
She was the smiling face of the North Korean leadership at the Olympics, as South Korean media analysed her freckles and clothing - and speculated on whether she was pregnant.
But her power within the state is not to be underestimated, and analysts say that many of the ruthless decisions Mr Kim took were probably made with his sister by his side.
North Korean sister with a 'tomboy streak'
Kim's sister and North Korea's secret weapon
Kim Yong-nam - survivor of purges
The 90-year-old Kim Yong-nam has seen the rule of all three North Korean leaders in his career.
Unlike Kim Jong-un, he has travelled abroad on official visits. He went to Iran last summer to attend President Hassan Rouhani's inauguration ceremony for his second term.
His loyalty to the leadership has never been questioned and some have pointed out that his ability to survive purges is impressive.
"He makes no mistakes. That's why he could keep his high-level post in a country where political purges are common," South Korea's Yonhap news agency quoted one North Korean defector as saying.
What this 'casual' photo tells us about N Korea
Choe Hwi - North Korean cultural don
North Korea's sports minister is known for his relatively relaxed demeanour in his state media appearances and photo opportunities.
His first post of any significance was as a manager of the Sea of Blood opera troupe in the mid-1980s, according to the North Korea Leadership Watch blog.
He has spent most of his career in North Korea's arts sector and is even thought to have been involved in the establishment of Moranbong Band, a North Korean all-female pop group.
The breakthrough role of the Winter Olympics in North-South relations as well as recent cultural exchanges may account for his importance.
Six extraordinary facts about music in North Korea
North Korea's cheerleading charm offensive
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