Who was Kim Jong Un’s mother? North Korea’s leader never talks about her mother due to…, what was her name and how did she die?

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is one of the world’s most secretive rulers, and one of the biggest mysteries surrounding him is his mother.

Despite ruling North Korea for nearly 15 years, Kim has never publicly spoken about her. Unlike his father and grandfather, whose birthdays and achievements are celebrated across the country, his mother’s name is rarely mentioned in official records or state media.

According to reports, there is a political reason behind the silence surrounding her identity.

What was Kim Jong Un’s mother’s name?

Kim Jong Un’s mother was named Ko Yong Hui.

She was born in 1952 in Osaka, Japan, but her family originally came from Jeju Island, which is now part of South Korea.

When she was around 10 years old, her family moved to North Korea as part of a migration programme for ethnic Koreans living in Japan.

Why does North Korea avoid talking about her?

North Korea considers both Japan and South Korea to be hostile countries.

People who moved from Japan to North Korea were often referred to as “Jaeppo”, a term used for ethnic Koreans from Japan and one that carried social stigma in North Korean society.

According to reports, North Korea’s ruling family promotes the idea of the “Paektu bloodline” as pure and special. Reports say that openly discussing Ko Yong Hui’s Japanese and South Korean roots could affect that image.

This is believed to be one of the reasons why North Korean authorities rarely mention her background publicly.

Read Also: What is a data center and why AI, WhatsApp and UPI can’t work without it? All you need to know

How did Ko Yong Hui become part of North Korea’s ruling family?

According to a BBC report, Ko Yong Hui met Kim Jong Il, Kim Jong Un’s father, while he was being prepared to take over leadership of North Korea.

Although Kim Jong Il was already married to Kim Young Sook, reports say he later entered into a relationship with Ko Yong Hui.

The couple had three children together, including Kim Jong Un.

BBC reported that because the two were not officially married, their children were largely kept away from public attention during their early years.

How did Kim Jong Un’s mother die?

Ko Yong Hui died in 2004 at a hospital in Paris after battling breast cancer.

According to reports, North Korean state media did not publicly announce her death and rarely mentioned her afterward.

How did Kim Jong Un become North Korea’s leader?

Reports say that Kim Jong Un became his father Kim Jong Il’s preferred successor at a young age because of his leadership qualities and competitive nature.

He also spent some time studying in Switzerland before returning to North Korea.

When Kim Jong Il died in 2011, Kim Jong Un took over as North Korea’s leader at the age of 27.

Why does Kim Jong Un remain distant from his mother’s legacy?

Unlike the birthdays of his grandfather Kim Il Sung and father Kim Jong Il, Ko Yong Hui’s birthday has never been declared a national holiday in North Korea.

According to reports, openly discussing her Japanese and South Korean background could raise questions about the carefully maintained image of North Korea’s ruling family.

As a result, Kim Jong Un continues to avoid speaking publicly about his mother, making her one of the least-discussed members of North Korea’s ruling dynasty.

Read Also: How will China keep its Teesta promise to Bangladesh? India still has