Why North Korean leader Kim Jong Un never talks about his mother, Ko Yong Hui - BBC News

Very few North Koreans know about her, as her origin could threaten the regime’s legitimacy.

BySangmi HanBBC News Korean, Reporting fromSeoulPublished28 June 2026, 00:10 BSTAmong the many mysteries shrouding North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, the secrecy around his mother stands out.

In his 15 years of rule, he has never once publicly mentioned her by name.

The legitimacy of Kim's dictatorship rests heavily on his "Mount Paektu" bloodline - a lineage tied to the mythical founder of the Korean people.

And in a country that prides itself on this hereditary purity, the identity of Kim's mother is not just a secret - but a threat to the regime itself.

Image source, Cheong Seong-changImage caption, Ko Yong Hui has never been mentioned by state media