Kim Ryong-ju

Kim Ryong-ju
Kim Ryong-ju
Born	c. 2010
Known for	being a son of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un whose appearance of physical frailty sidelined him
Parents	Kim Jong-un (father); Ri Sol-ju (mother);

North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un, and his official wife, Ri Sol-ju, have had at least two children, the eldest, a boy, is said to be named Kim Ryong-ju.^[1] His younger sister, widely known as Kim Ju-ae, is Kim Jong-un's chosen successor. Observers have wondered why.

Choe Su-yong, a former official with South Korea's National Intelligence Service, citing his contacts within North Korea, explains that Kim Ryong-ju is not seen as healthy enough to be a credible successor.^[2] His half-brother Kim Il-bong, who is about the same age, is described as "robust", while Ryong-je is "thin and pale". KBS WORLD Radio quoted Choe saying Kim Ryong-ju's “unappealing physical appearance seems to have discouraged Kim from disclosing his son in public.”^[3]

References

↑ "Rodman's fault Kim Jong-un's daughter known by wrong name: ex-South Korean spy". South China Morning Post. 2023-11-17. Archived from the original on 2023-11-17. Retrieved 2026-03-01. Choe claims Kim introduced his daughter to Dennis Rodman, saying in Korean that ‘jeo-ae’ (that girl) is his daughter. Rodman misunderstood ‘jeo-ae’ as her name
↑ "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. Choe, however, questions the accuracy of the information, citing intelligence he gathered from his sources in the North revealing that Kim Jong-un has four children, not three as the NIS confirmed. He said Kim’s wife, Ri, gave birth to two children – a son named “Ryong-ju” and the daughter known to the media as Ju-ae. The two others – the eldest and the youngest – were born out of wedlock.
↑ "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.”

[SouthChinaMorningPost2023-11-17-1] "Rodman's fault Kim Jong-un's daughter known by wrong name: ex-South Korean spy". South China Morning Post. 2023-11-17. Archived from the original on 2023-11-17. Retrieved 2026-03-01. Choe claims Kim introduced his daughter to Dennis Rodman, saying in Korean that ‘jeo-ae’ (that girl) is his daughter. Rodman misunderstood ‘jeo-ae’ as her name

[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. Choe, however, questions the accuracy of the information, citing intelligence he gathered from his sources in the North revealing that Kim Jong-un has four children, not three as the NIS confirmed. He said Kim’s wife, Ri, gave birth to two children – a son named “Ryong-ju” and the daughter known to the media as Ju-ae. The two others – the eldest and the youngest – were born out of wedlock.

[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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