SheisbelievedtohaveimportantrolesinpoliticaldepartmentsinPyongyangandisseentobe a topadvisortoherbrother, includingduringhisflurriesofbrinkmanshipanddiplomacywithDonaldTrump.
SecretaryofStateMikePompeo, whohastravelledtoPyongyangandmetChairmanKimhimselfseveraltimes, includingwhenhewasCIAchief, made a pointofsayingthathehadalsometChairmanKim's sisteronpasttrips, aswellassomeoftheotherleaders, aswell.
CIA 長官時代を含めて何度か会っているマイク・ポンペオ国務長官は、過去で平壌を訪れた際、金委員長、そして金委員長の妹や他の指導者にも会ったことがあると明言しました。
Oneperson I spoketowhoisdirectlyintouchwithNorthKoreanandChineseofficialstoldmethat, evenifKim's sisterweretotakeoverasfigurehead, thepartywouldtrytoprojectleadershipin a styleakintothatofChinabeforeXiJinpingtookthereins, portrayingsomethingmoreakintocollectiveleadership.
Analysts I spoketosaidtheTrumpadministrationhasalsotakenitseyeofftheball, astheprospectfortalkswithNorthKoreathatmightactuallyyieldfruithavedwindled, andtheteamtheyassembledtotryanddeliverdenuclearisationhasscatteredindifferentdirections.
ThesearchforKimJongUnappearstohavecometoanendfornow, buttheepisodehasservedas a starkreminderofthepotentialfor a suddendramaticchangeintheleadershipinPyongyangandthedangersofhavinganunstablenuclear-armedpariahstatethatsharesborderswithChinaandSouthKoreaandhas a historyofthreateningtheUnitedStates.