The Sister

The Extraordinary Story of Kim Yo Jong, the Most Powerful Woman in North Korea

By: Sung-Yoon Lee

Narrated by: Dexter Galang

Length: 6 hrs and 43 mins

Publisher's summary

‘Explosive . . . a ground-breaking and revealing new book’ – Daily Mail

‘In explaining the rise to power of Kim Yo Jong, Lee displays his deep knowledge and understanding of North Korea’s extreme, ruthless and self-obsessed dynastic autocracy, the creators and rulers of a de-facto nuclear weapon state. Not a reassuring story’ – Sir John Scarlett, former Chief of the Secret Intelligence Service (MI6)

Written by Dr Sung-Yoon Lee, a scholar and specialist on North Korea who has advised the US government, The Sister is a jaw-dropping account of the spectacular rise of Kim Yo Jong, de-facto deputy to her brother, Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un, and the most powerful woman in North Korea.

In 2022, in a particularly fiery speech, Kim Yo Jong threatened to nuke South Korea, reminding the world of the dangers posed by her state. But how did the youngest daughter of Dear Leader Kim Jong Il, his ‘sweet princess’, become the ruthless chief propagandist, internal administrator and foreign policymaker for her brother’s totalitarian regime?

The Sister uncovers the truth about Kim Yo Jong, her close bond with Kim Jong Un and the lessons in manipulation they learned from their father. He also examines the iron grip the Kim dynasty has on their country, the grotesque deaths of family members deemed disloyal, and the signs that Kim Yo Jong has been positioned as her brother’s successor should he die while his own children are young.

Readable and insightful, this book is an invaluable portrait of a woman who might yet hold the survival of her despotic dynasty in her hands.

‘A detailed, insightful study . . . Lee is excellent on the regime’s reliance on suppressing, distorting and manipulating information . . . His vivid account of surreal, intractable negotiations with the Kim siblings underlines The Sister’s central insight: Kim Yo Jong is very much part of the family’ – The Guardian

©2022 Sung-Yoon Lee (P)2022 Macmillan Publishers International Ltd

Critic reviews

Riveting, unique, policy-relevant narrative of the first order . . . Lee sees through the North Korean regime's antics, maskirovka, and propaganda – much of it the work of Kim Yo Jong – as does no other. A work of penetrating analysis, caustic wit, and elegant prose (James Stavridis, PhD., Admiral in US Navy (Retired), and former Supreme Allied Commander at NATO)

A riveting profile of the rise of the current leader’s sister, Kim Yo Jong, and the resilience of the Kim regime (Times Literary Supplement)

Extraordinarily well researched . . . an invaluable resource in understanding one of the most intriguing and least known figures in today’s North Korea (Stephen E. Biegun, United States Special Representative for North Korea, 2018-2021 and Deputy Secretary of State, 2021-2022 )

Dr Lee deftly skewers the misperceptions of Kim Yo Jong to insightfully assess her longstanding and powerful role. Comprehensive, provocative, and eloquently written. Should be required reading for policymakers and pundits trying to decipher the North Korean Game of Thrones (Bruce Klingner, former Deputy Division Chief for Korea, CIA; former North Korea Analyst, DIA, Senior Research Fellow, Asian Studies Center, The Heritage Foundation)

Mr Lee’s book is not just a profile of a central figure in what is arguably the world’s most brutal dictatorship, but also of her clan. By showing how the family operates, The Sister offers insights into the workings of the only hereditary monarchy to style itself as communist; a regime willing to let millions starve while it spends billions on weapons (The Economist)

In The Sister, Sung-Yoon Lee offers a trenchant analysis of the Kim Jong Un regime and his sister's role in propagating their cult of personality. He employs his deep knowledge of the subject and his fine literary skills to tell a tale that is both fascinating and disturbing (Dr Sue Mi Terry, Director of the Asia Program, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars)

This captivating, well-researched portrait of one of the world's most secretive and powerful women offers a rare glimpse into the heart of North Korea's leadership and the complexities of its political landscape (Bradley Hope, author of The Rebel and the Kingdom and co-founder of Project Brazen)