The military parade earlier this month saw the 43-year-old pop-star replacing Kim Yo-Jong. Hyon Song-wol was seen standing behind Kim during his speech and receiving flowers given to the leader. The sister of the head of state was seen seated with lower-ranking officials and was only shown once during the three-hour broadcast. Kim Yo-Song's slow shift away from the spotlight is similar to that of Kim's wife Ri Sol-ju. According to The Times, the mother of the leader's children had not made a public appearance since January. It is speculated that she might have had another child, the Daily Mail reported. Peter Ward, a Seoul-based researcher on North Korea, pointed out that powershifts in the nation at times occurred for no apparent reason.
