The Sister: The extraordinary story of Kim Yo Jong, the most powerful woman in North Korea (Paperback) - Sung-Yoon Lee

This first book on Kim Jong-un's powerful sister, tipped to be his successor, is a readable, jaw-dropping insight into a secretive and dangerous dynasty.

'Ground-breaking' - Daily Mail

'In explaining the rise to power of Kim Yo Jong, Lee displays his deep knowledge and understanding of North Korea's extreme, ruthless and self-obsessed dynastic autocracy, the creators and rulers of a de-facto nuclear weapon state. Not a reassuring story' - Sir John Scarlett, former Chief of the Secret Intelligence Service (MI6)

Written by Dr Sung-Yoon Lee, a scholar and specialist on North Korea who has advised the US government, The Sister is a jaw-dropping account of the spectacular rise of Kim Yo Jong, de-facto deputy to her brother, Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un, and the most powerful woman in North Korea.

In 2022, in a particularly fiery speech, Kim Yo Jong threatened to nuke South Korea, reminding the world of the dangers posed by her state. But how did the youngest daughter of Dear Leader Kim Jong Il, his 'sweet princess', become the ruthless chief propagandist, internal administrator and foreign policymaker for her brother's totalitarian regime?

The Sister uncovers the truth about Kim Yo Jong, her close bond with Kim Jong Un and the lessons in manipulation they learned from their father. Lee also examines the iron grip the Kim dynasty has on their country, the grotesque deaths of family members deemed disloyal, and the signs that Kim Yo Jong has been positioned as her brother's successor should he die while his own children are young.

Readable and insightful, this book is an invaluable portrait of a woman who might yet hold the survival of her despotic dynasty in her hands.

'An incisive portrayal of North Korea's "princess", Kim Yo Jong, but also a chilling portrait of a family dynasty that has oppressed and exploited North Korea for generation after generation' - Max Boot, Washington Post columnist, author and senior fellow, Council on Foreign Relations

About the Author

Sung-Yoon Lee is a fellow at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. Previously he taught Korean history and politics at the Fletcher School Tufts University. He has written on the international politics of the North Korean Peninsula and north-east Asia for numerous publications, including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post. He has testified as an expert witness at the US House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs hearings on North Korea policy and has advised senior officials and elected leaders, including the President of the United States.