Sung-Yoon Lee

In explaining the rise to power of Kim Yo Jong, Lee displays his deep knowledge and understanding of North Koreas 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)The Sister is a fascinating, authoritative 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, written by Sung-Yoon Lee, a scholar and specialist on North Korea, uncovers the truth about Kim Yo Jong, her close bond with Kim Jong Un and the lessons in manipulation they learned from their father. He 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 Koreas "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

Upershe ambitsiji, strategija i vpliv Kim Jo Chzhon stajut temoju retelnogo doslidzhennja u knizi Son-Jun Li, eksperta z korejskikh ta skhidnoazijskikh studij. Kim Jo Chzhon ne tilki oblichchja rezhimu, ale j politichna gravchinja, chiji diji viznachajut globalnij porjadok. Rozuminnja osobistosti Kim Jo Chzhon - tse rozuminnja majbutnogo Pivnichnoji Koreji ta jiji zagroz dlja svitu. Scho khovajetsja za "usmishkoju Moni Lizi"? Jak same Kim Jo Chzhon stala kljuchovoju figuroju avtoritarnogo rezhimu? Kniga Son-Jun Li - zakhopliva istorija pro tajemnichij svit Pivnichnoji Koreji ta jiji despotichnu dinastiju - sim'ju, chija zhaga do vladi porodzhuje represiji proti tsivilnogo naselennja, raketnu programu, natsilenu na kontinentalnu chastinu SSHA, ta postijnu zagrozu glo - balnogo khaosu.

'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

This first book on Kim Jong Un's increasingly powerful sister, tapped to be his successor, offers jaw-dropping insights into the latest generation of North Korea's secretive and murderous dynasty. The first woman ever to issue the threat of a nuclear weapons strike is not even officially a head of state. Kim Yo Jong is the sister of North Korea's Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un and, as their murderous regime's chief propagandist, internal administrator, and foreign policymaker, she is the most powerful woman in North Korean history. Cruel but charming, she threatens and insults foreign leaders with sardonic wit, issuing proclamations and denunciations in her own name, a first for any woman in the Korean royal family. She memorably called the South Korean Defense Minister "a senseless and scum-like guy" before going on to promise South Korea "a miserable fate little short of total destruction and ruin". A princess by birth with great expectations for her macabre kingdom, she was brought up to believe it is her mission to reunite North Korea with the South or die trying. She's ruthless and incredibly dangerous. The Sister, written by Sung-Yoon Lee, a scholar of Korean and East Asian studies and a specialist on North Korea, is a fascinating, authoritative account of the mysterious world of North Korea and its ruling dynasty--a family whose lust for power entails the brutal repression of civilians, a missile program that can reach the continental US, and the constant threat of global havoc.

Diktaattorin oikea käsiProfessori Sung-Yoon Lee esittelee kirjassaan Pohjois-Korean prinsessa nuoren ja häikäilemättömän naisen, joka johtaa veljensä kanssa Pohjois-Koreaa rautaisella kädellä. Pohjois-Korean diktaattorin Kim Jong Unin sisar Kim Yo Jong (s. 1987) on maansa historian kenties vaikutusvaltaisin nainen. Kim Yo Jong on elänyt koko elämänsä yläluokkaista elämää, jota on ylläpidetty tavallisen kansan kustannuksella. Hänen maallaan on kyseenalainen kunnia olla maailmanhistorian totalitaarisin sortovaltio, kleptokratia, joka teeskentelee olevansa kommunistinen kansantasavalta. Kim Yo Jong on toiminut useissa tärkeissä viroissa Pohjois-Korean huipulla. Julkisuudessa hän on esiintynyt veljensä rinnalla ja antanut rääväsuisia lausuntoja, jotka ovat kohdistuneet länsimaihin, erityisesti Yhdysvaltoihin. Mikäli Kim Jong Un kuolee tai väistyy, Kim Yo Jongista tulee maansa ensimmäinen naishallitsija yli tuhanteen vuoteen. Pohjois-Korean erityisasiantuntija Sung-Yoon Lee on koonnut tähän kirjaan kaiken saatavilla olevan tiedon Kim Yo Jongin elämästä muun muassa haastattelemalla tämän kanssa kosketuksissa olleita loikkareita ja keräämällä yhteen tiedusteluraporttien tiedonsirpaleita.

‘Explosive . . . a ground-breaking and revealing new book’ – 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. He 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.‘A detailed, insightful study . . . Lee is excellent on the regime’s reliance on suppressing, distorting and manipulating information . . . His vivid account of surreal, intractable negotiations with the Kim siblings underlines The Sister’s central insight: Kim Yo Jong is very much part of the family’ – The Guardian