North Korea’s tyrant leader invited his southern counterpart to Pyongyang at the “earliest date possible” in what was the highest level meeting between the war-torn nations in years.
Facilitating the diplomatic exchange of pleasantries was Kim’s younger sister and Director of the Propaganda and Agitation Department of the Workers’ Party of Korea.
The 30-year-old set the stage for the first meeting of Korean leaders in more than a decade when she shook hands with Mr Moon at the presidential Blue House in Seoul.
Blue House officials have now confirmed that the deal was “practically accepted” in a historic turn of events.
But why was the diplomatic responsibility entrusted with Kim’s largely unknown sister?
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Kim Yo-jong is widely regarded as one of her brother’s top confidantes and senior officials in the North Korean Government.
Her importance within the ranks of the rogue regime is stressed by the fact that she is the first member of the Kim dynasty to visit South Korea since the Korean War more than 60 years ago.
Many consider Kim to be the most powerful woman in North Korea.
Born on September 26, 1987, Kim was the second child of the late despot Kim Jong-il and his mistress Ko Yong-hui.
Despite only being half-brother to the North Korean leader, the two are understood to a have a very close connection.
In fact, when Kim was believed to have undergone medical treatment in October 2014, his sister filled in.
Since 2015 she has been entrusted with North Korea’s Propaganda and Agitation Department, and is often seen shadowing her brother on official propaganda tours of the country.
As a child, Kim grew up with her siblings Kim Jong-chul and Kim Jong-un in Pyongyang, before being sent to study in Berne, Switzerland, under a false name.
She returned to the hermit state in 2000 and scarce details over the next few years suggest that she attended a Western European university after her mother died in 2004.
By 2007 she was already rising through the ranks of the communist Workers’ Party of Korea, and was later a key member in her brother’s succession campaign.
Before her father died in 2011 aged 70, she worked at the National Defence Commission and as Kim Jong-il’s personal secretariat.
According to the North Korea Leadership Watch monitoring blog, she soon after became “one of her brother’s close aides” and was put in charge of his public events and itineraries.
The North Korea Watch said: “Since her brother’s accession to the supreme leadership of the DPRK, Kim Yo Jong has been routinely observed attending Kim Jong Un’s public appearances.
“She is usually attired in an olive green jacket commonly worn by the reporters and photographers that document Kim Jong-un’s on-site visits and military field inspections.
“She presently works in Kim Jong-un’s executive office where she manages his public appearances–including his itineraries, schedule, logistical needs and security arrangements.”
South Korean media and Chinese intelligence sources suggest Kim is married to Party Secretary Choe Ryong Hae.