"Kim Jong Un's Weakness Is His Zainichi Korean Mother," Claims Japanese Journalist in New Book

Yoji Gomi's New Book Released in Japan
Covers the Life and Family of Kim Jong Un's Biological Mother, Ko Yonghui

There is a claim that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's frequent public appearances with his wife Ri Sol Ju and daughter Kim Ju Ae are influenced by his complex about his own origins, as his biological mother was a Zainichi Korean. In North Korean society, Zainichi Koreans are perceived as having relatively low social status, and Kim Jong Un's mother was not the official wife of Kim Jong Il, the former Chairman of the National Defense Commission.

Book cover of "Goh Yonghee - The Zainichi Korean Who Became Kim Jong Un's Mother". Amazon

Japanese nonfiction journalist Yoji Gomi, a former editorial writer for the Tokyo Shimbun, presented this view in his book "Goh Yonghee - The Zainichi Korean Who Became Kim Jong Un's Mother," which will be published on June 20. The book, published by Bungeishunju, is based on interviews with Goh Yonghee's half-brother and covers the life and family relationships of Goh Yonghee.

According to excerpts released by Bungeishunju and posts on social media, the author explains that Goh Yonghee was born in 1952 in Osaka, Japan, spent her childhood in the city's Koreatown, and later moved to North Korea, where she had two sons and one daughter?Kim Jong Chol, Kim Jong Un, and Kim Yo Jong?with Kim Jong Il.

However, the author notes that "mentioning Goh Yonghee is taboo in North Korea," and that "Kim Jong Un himself has never publicly referred to his mother."

The author attributes Kim Jong Un's avoidance of mentioning Goh Yonghee to her background. He states, "In the past, a video idolizing Goh Yonghee as the 'Mother of Korea' was produced, but it was sealed away, and only secretly copied versions circulated among North Koreans." He adds, "Zainichi Koreans who returned from Japan to North Korea were considered to have low status and were strictly monitored because they were seen as likely spies." Furthermore, he points out, "Goh Yonghee was not Kim Jong Il's official wife, but his lover."

The book also covers details about Goh Yonghee's father, Goh Kyungtaek. According to the book, Goh Kyungtaek had families with at least three women in Japan and led a complicated life, repeatedly being arrested for activities such as smuggling, which ultimately forced him to leave for North Korea.

The author states that Goh Yonghee received breast cancer treatment in Paris, France, but passed away at the age of 51. He claims that due to the authoritarian North Korean system and issues related to the succession process, she missed the window for surgery and instead opted for drug treatment. The author also says he obtained photos of Goh Yonghee in her final years from an acquaintance, stating, "Seeing her in a large white hat and sitting in a wheelchair, you can sense the severity of her illness, and her face bears a striking resemblance to Kim Jong Un today."

He also recounts that Goh Yonghee missed Japan while living in North Korea, traveled to Japan, and secretly visited Japan on her way back to North Korea after receiving breast cancer treatment in France in 1997 and 2000.

The author claims that Goh Yonghee told her children about Japan and taught them Japanese, arguing that for Kim Jong Un, Japan may not be an "eternal enemy," but rather a "neighboring country where relatives live."