Kim Il-bong

Kim Il-bong
Kim Il-bong
Born	c. early 2010
Known for	being "robust", while the legitimate son is thin and frain
Parents	Kim Jong-un (father); Hyon Song-wol (mother);

North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un's first girlfriend, Hyon Song-wol, has been reported to have borne him a son, named Kim Il-bong.^[1] That son is reported to be older than the daughter who has regularly seen with Kim, on ceremonial events, Kim Ju-ae.

According to Choe Su-yong, a former South Korean intelligence official, Kim Il-bong is closer in age to Kim Jong-un and Ri Sol-ju's oldest son, who is thin and frail, while Kim Il-bong is "robust".^[2] Choe claimed his North Korean contacts say Kim Il-bong's “unappealing physical appearance seems to have discouraged Kim from disclosing his son in public.”^[3]

References

↑ "North Korean leader's daughter known by wrong name: expert". The Korea Times. 2023-11-16. Archived from the original on 2023-11-16. Retrieved 2023-11-16. 'Kim’s first child is a son, and his name is Il-bong,' Choe said, adding that he is an illegitimate child and his mother is North Korean singer-turned-politician Hyon Song-wol. 'Kim’s youngest child is believed to be five years old or less. It remains unknown whether that child is a girl or a boy, but the child was born out of wedlock, too. The mother of that child is a Korean Japanese pianist. She is known by her first name Ryo-sim. But I don’t have any further details about her,' he added.
↑ "North Korea's Kim Jong Un Snapped With "Secret Lover"". Pratidin. 2024-04-16. Archived from the original on 2024-05-29. Retrieved 2026-02-27. According to Choe, Kim Jong Un's legitimate child with his wife, Ri Sol-ju, is described as thin and frail, while the alleged illegitimate son, Kim Il-bong, is portrayed as robust.
↑ "Kim Jong-un Reportedly Has 'Pale and Thin' Firstborn Son Kept Away from Public". KBS WORLD Radio. 2024-02-26. Archived from the original on 2024-02-27. Retrieved 2026-03-01. The Daily Mail last Friday referenced a report by the Korea Times in which a retired official from the National Intelligence Service(NIS), Choe Su-yong, who, citing sources from the North, said that the son's “unappealing physical appearance seems to have discouraged Kim from disclosing his son in public.” Choe reportedly added that unlike Kim himself and his daughter, who's “plump and well-fed,” his son is said to be “pale and thin.”

[koreatimes2023-11-16-1] "North Korean leader's daughter known by wrong name: expert". The Korea Times. 2023-11-16. Archived from the original on 2023-11-16. Retrieved 2023-11-16. 'Kim’s first child is a son, and his name is Il-bong,' Choe said, adding that he is an illegitimate child and his mother is North Korean singer-turned-politician Hyon Song-wol. 'Kim’s youngest child is believed to be five years old or less. It remains unknown whether that child is a girl or a boy, but the child was born out of wedlock, too. The mother of that child is a Korean Japanese pianist. She is known by her first name Ryo-sim. But I don’t have any further details about her,' he added.

[pratidintime2024-04-16-2] "North Korea's Kim Jong Un Snapped With "Secret Lover"". Pratidin. 2024-04-16. Archived from the original on 2024-05-29. Retrieved 2026-02-27. According to Choe, Kim Jong Un's legitimate child with his wife, Ri Sol-ju, is described as thin and frail, while the alleged illegitimate son, Kim Il-bong, is portrayed as robust.

[KbsRadio2024-02-26-3] "Kim Jong-un Reportedly Has 'Pale and Thin' Firstborn Son Kept Away from Public". KBS WORLD Radio. 2024-02-26. Archived from the original on 2024-02-27. Retrieved 2026-03-01. The Daily Mail last Friday referenced a report by the Korea Times in which a retired official from the National Intelligence Service(NIS), Choe Su-yong, who, citing sources from the North, said that the son's “unappealing physical appearance seems to have discouraged Kim from disclosing his son in public.” Choe reportedly added that unlike Kim himself and his daughter, who's “plump and well-fed,” his son is said to be “pale and thin.”

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