Kim Sol-song (Korean: 김설송; born 30 December 1974) is the daughter of North Korea's former leaderKim Jong Il andKim Young-sook and a half-sister toKim Jong Un, the current leader of North Korea. She has been active within thepropaganda department, been in charge of literary affairs, and previously led the security and schedule of her father as his secretary.[1][2]
The name "Sol-song" literally means "snow pine," and was given by her grandfather,Kim Il Sung.[1]
Sol-song was a favourite of her father. Like him, she attendedKim Il Sung University, majoring in economics. She may also have studied inParis in the autumn of 2005.[1] After graduating, she was assigned to the propaganda department of the Central Committee of theWorkers' Party of Korea.[1] She was in charge of literary affairs: all the signatures on works of literature coming into the department were signed by her.[1]
Starting in the late 1990s, Sol-song was in charge of managing the security and schedule of Kim Jong Il. She accompanied her father during trips toNorth Korean Army units and local villages. During these trips, she was observed wearing the uniform of alieutenant colonel.[1]
Sol-song was described by a North Korean defector as "intelligent" and "beautiful." She has hair down to her waist and is 1.65 meters (5 ft 5 in) tall.[1]
^To keep the tree of manageable size, it omits five out of the seven known legitimate children of Kim Il Sung. Other children not shown in the tree are:Kim Man-il (1944-1947; child ofKim Jong-suk), Kim Kyong-jin (1952-; child ofKim Song-ae), Kim Yong-il (1955-2000; child of Kim Song-ae), and Kim Kyong-suk (1951-; child of Kim Song-ae). A stillborn daughter is also omitted. Kim Il Sung was reported to have had other children with women who he was not married to; they included Kim Hyŏn-nam (born 1972). Also, only some of the descendants of Kim Jong Il and Kim Jong Un (Kim Il Sung's successors) are included.
^Korean names often have a variety of transliterations into English, which can be confusing. For example, "Kim Jong Chul" may also be written "Gim Jeong-cheol" or "Kim Jŏng-ch'ŏl" among many other variations. SeeKorean romanization for more information.
^Official North Korean biographies of Kim Jong Il list his birth year as 1942. TheKorean calendar is based upon theChinese zodiac which is believed to characterize one's personality. The year 1942 (Year of the Horse), in addition to being 30 years since Kim Il Sung's birth may be viewed as a better year than others, thus creating a motive to lie about a birth year.
^Official North Korean biographies of Kim Jong Un list his birth year as 1982. TheKorean calendar is based upon theChinese zodiac which is believed to characterize one's personality. The year 1982 (Year of the Dog), in addition to being 70 years since Kim Il Sung's birth, may be viewed as a better year than others, thus creating a motive to lie about a birth year.
^Birth year for Kim Ju Ae is not publicly known. She may have been born in either late 2012 or early 2013.
