Kim Sung-ae

Kim Sŏng-ae (born 1928) was the second wife of North Korean leader Kim Il-sung. They became husband and wife in 1952, following the death of Kim Il-sung's first wife in 1949, although due to the Korean War no formal ceremony was held. One source indicates Kim Il-sung had had an affair with her even before his first wife died. She gave birth to a daughter (Kim Kyong-jin, 1953) and two sons (Kim Pyong-il, 1955; Kim Yong-il, 1957). She later rose in political power, becoming vice-chairwoman of the Central Committee of the Korean Women's Association (조선여성총동맹) in the mid-1960s and chairwoman in the 1970s. She held that post until resigning in 1998; since that time, little information about her has reached the outside world.^[2]

There are rumors that she was killed in a car accident in Beijing in June 2001.^[2] Other reports claim she is still alive as of July 2011, though in poor health, and that Kim Pyong-il returned to Pyongyang from his posting in Poland to visit her.^[3]

References