The purge and execution of Jang Sung Taek
has inspired a great deal of speculation about the wellbeing and whereabouts of
both Kim Kyong Hui [alternate spelling: Kim Kyung Hee] and Ri Sol Ju, since
both women had close relations of one sort or another with Jang.
Kim has not appeared in the North
Korean state media since September this year. Even before the purge of Jang, this
fact had already inspired a number of rumors in the South Korean press, largely without substantive evidence, including that she was under house arrest or suffering from
particularly acute ill health.
However, over the weekend Kim appeared sixth
on the officially published funeral committee list for Kim Kuk Tae, a former
Workersβ Party official who died on the 13th. As such, it is probable that Kim
Jong Eunβs aunt will also take part in events to mark the anniversary of the
death of her brother, Kim Jong Il, on December 17th, 2011.
Noting the complex nature of family
relations in East Asian societies, some experts have asserted that Kimβs
marriage to Jang Sung Taek must have been brought to an end prior to his
arrest, trial and execution. It is unlikely that this theory, logical though it
may be, will be proven one way or the other in the near future. At the same
time, her health remains a key variable, one that crops up in analysis almost constantly.
Cheong Seong Chang of the Sejong Institute
told Daily NK, βThis year, Kim Kyong Huiβs health hasnβt really gotten any
better, but as long as it hasnβt deteriorated then she will attend the events marking the 2nd anniversary of Kim Jong Ilβs death. She is of the
βMt. Baekdu lineβ and was already estranged from Jang Sung Taek prior to the
purge, so she’ll probably appear irrespective of the execution.β
Last Friday the Japanese daily Asahi
Shimbun cited a Chinese source as claiming that Kim had actually forced
Jang to divorce her immediately prior to his execution. The piece asserted that
had they still been married at the time of the execution, Jangβs status as a
member of the Kim βRoyal Familyβ would have complicated the process and made
political waves domestically.
Meanwhile, Kim Jong Eunβs wife Ri Sol Ju,
who has also not appeared in public since October 16th, a total of
58 days, finally appeared in a televised documentary on the 13th. Following
Jangβs execution, Chosun Central Television showed Ri making a site visit with
her husband, an event that took place in summer last year. However, the image
of Ri was not new, making it impossible to use it to firmly establish her current
status.
Importantly, it is said that Ri was
introduced to Kim Jong Eun through Jang Sung Taek. For this reason, in addition
to all the rumors of sexually explicit films that have been swirling for
months, there is ever-increasing interest in whether or not Ri will attend the memorial.
Last year she appeared at the first anniversary while heavily pregnant, so absence
this year would be bound to attract attention.
On this, Cheong was circumspect. βIf she were
not to appear, one could think that some of the rumors might be true,β he said.
βBecause Riβs appearances can be used for political gain, it is possible that she
will appear.β
βAt the beginning of this year when [North
Korea] was in βhardline modeβ they didnβt have her appear in public, then at
the end of April when they moved into a conciliatory phase they brought her
out,β he recalled. βThey may not wish to have her appear while the purge of
Jang Sung Taek is ongoing, but then theyβd likely bring her out once they put
back on the conciliatory tone.β
