Possible heirs to Kim Jong-un

Married
Line of succession 
Offspring
Possible heir or key player

   
NORTH KOREA’S RULING FAMILY*

Kim Il-sung (1912-94)
Founder of North Korea, “Eternal President”


Kim Jong-il	
(1941-2011)	
“Dear Leader” took office in 1993

Jang Sung-taek	
(1946-2013)	
Second most powerful man in North Korea, executed by Kim Jong-un in 2013

Kim Kyong-hui	
(1946-)	
Powerful figure in leadership circle while her brother was in power	

Kim Pyong-il
(1954-)
Served as diplomat abroad for 40 years before returning to Pyongyang in 2019


WIVES / CONSORTS

Song Hye-rim
(1937-2002)

Kim Young-sook
(1947-)

Ko Yong-hui
(1952-2004)     

Kim Ok
(1964-)
          

Kim Jong-nam 
(1971-2017)
Assassinated at Kuala Lumpur airport in 2017

Kim Sul-song 
(1974-)
Business owner and powerful political figure

Kim Jong-chol 
(1981-)
Rejected as heir, but could play more public role in contingency

Kim Jong-un 
(1984-)
“Supreme Leader” not seen in public since Apr 11

Ri Sol-ju 
(1985-)
Former singer, believed to have wed Kim in 2009

Kim Yo-jong 
(1987-)
Groomed for power since her teens


Kim Han-sol
(1995-)
Whereabouts unknown


Kim Jong-un is believed to have three children, too young to rule


Choe Ryong-hae: Ceremonial head of state and North Korea’s official second-in-command could assume control if Kim Yo-jong fails to secure power and leadership passes outside Kim family for first time


*Some family members omitted for clarity


Sources: AP, Bloomberg 
Pictures: AP, Newscom, Getty Images 
© GRAPHIC NEWS