Kim Jong-un and Ri Sol-ju Pay Respects at Kumsusan Palace of the Sun... Kim Yo-jong Not Seen (Comprehensive Report 2)

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] Kim Jong-un, General Secretary of the Workers' Party of North Korea, visited the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun with his wife Ri Sol-ju on the occasion of the regime founding anniversary (September 9). Notably, Kim Yo-jong, the deputy director of the Propaganda and Agitation Department and Kim's sister, who has often appeared in photos and videos, was not spotted.

Korean Central News Agency reported, "Comrade Kim Jong-un visited the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun on the 9th with Ri Sol-ju on the occasion of the 73rd anniversary of the founding of the Republic."

The Kumsusan Palace of the Sun is the resting place of the bodies of President Kim Il-sung and Chairman Kim Jong-il. Kim Jong-un also visited this place last year on the regime founding anniversary.

This was Ri Sol-ju's first appearance at an official event in about four months since attending a performance by the military family arts troupe in May.

The visit was accompanied by Choe Ryong-hae, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly; Jo Yong-won, Secretary of the Workers' Party Organization; Kim Tok-hun, Premier of the Cabinet; Pak Jong-chon, Party Secretary; and other standing committee members and senior officials of the armed forces.

However, Kim Yo-jong was not seen in the photos of the visit released by the news agency that day. She also did not appear at all during the 1 hour and 45 minutes long broadcast of the military parade and ball held the previous day by Korean Central Television. The broadcast of the parade included appearances by Party Deputy Director Hyon Song-wol, announcer Ri Chun-hee, and singer Kim Ok-ju.

Kim Yo-jong, who has often appeared in photos and videos even when her name was not mentioned in the media, has drawn attention for her absence. Her last official event attendance was sitting in the audience at the expanded Politburo meeting on the 2nd.

Meanwhile, Kim Jong-un took commemorative photos with participants of the midnight military parade held that day and encouraged those involved, saying, "Through the magnificent military parade, the combat power and unity of our country's civilian and security forces were fully demonstrated."

The news agency added that Kim expressed "expectation and confidence that the parade participants will continue to hold a gun in one hand and a hammer, sickle, and brush in the other, fulfilling their mission and duty to defend the homeland and build socialism."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.