How elite North Korean women have shattered the glass ceiling under Kim Jong Un | NK News
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September 27, 2026Sep 27, 2026

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How elite North Korean women have shattered the glass ceiling under Kim Jong Un

Daughter’s frequent appearances and women in key posts showcase shifting attitudes about roles women can play

Kim Jong Un is a feminist — at least if judged by the incredibly low standards of North Korea. 

His sister Kim Yo Jong is deputy director of the party’s propaganda department and is frequently called on to deliver pointed messages to the U.S. and South Korea, while Choe Son Hui serves as North Korean foreign minister. 

Kim Jong Un’s wife, Ri Sol Ju, has appeared in public alongside the leader for the last several years, and of course, he has now begun bringing his daughter to missile tests, military parades and other landmark events at which older (male) elites