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Agence France-Presse

Kim Yo-jong, the powerful sister of North Korea’s supreme leader, has been spotted with what appears to be a Chinese-made foldable phone.
Images released by state media on Sunday showed Kim holding the phone in her right hand during a trip to a hospital opening alongside her brother, Kim Jong-un.
Although the brand name cannot be seen in the picture, the phone closely resembles the Chinese brand Honor’s “Magic” line, advertised as “the world’s thinnest foldable smartphone”.
The V3 model of the phone sells for around US$1,379 – well out of range of the average North Korean, who analysts say typically earn up to US$3 a month in state-run industries.

Kim’s family is known for their love of gadgets.
Leader Kim Jong-un has been pictured using Apple products, including iPads and MacBooks, at high-profile events.
In 2023, he also sported a foldable smartphone during a missile launch.
Pyongyang’s elite regularly skirt international sanctions to get their hands on the latest gadgetry from abroad.
UN sanctions imposed in response to North Korea’s nuclear programme prohibit the import of smartphones.
A domestic smartphone market has ballooned in recent years, with analysts at specialist website NK News identifying over a dozen brands now available.


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North Korea

Kim’s sister spotted with suspected luxury Chinese foldable phone

Kim Yo-jong is seen holding a suspected Chinese phone in this picture taken on Saturday showing leader Kim Jong-un (right) inspecting a new hospital Kusong. Photo: KCNA/KNS/AFP

A worker on a production line holds an Honor Magic 8 smartphone at a factory in Shenzhen in October. Photo: AFP

Kim flaunts daughter, missiles as North Korea eyes Russian jets

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (centre) and his daughter Ju-ae (centre, left) watch a demonstration flight commemorating the 80th anniversary of the air force’s founding on Friday. Photo: KCNA/KNS/AFP

North Korea’s Kim Jong-un (centre) is seen accompanied by his daughter Ju-ae at Friday’s air force anniversary event. Photo: KCNA/KNS/AFP

Kim Jong-un and his daughter watch a fly-past during Friday’s air force anniversary event at Kalma Airfield in Wonsan. Photo: KCNA/Reuters

Kim Jong-un and Ju-ae (right) interact with pilots at Friday’s event. Photo: KCNA/KNS/AFP

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North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and his daughter Ju-ae (second from left) arrive back in Pyongyang on Friday after returning from China. Photo: KCNA/KNS /AFP

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Russian President Vladimir Putin meet on Wednesday last week during their visit to Beijing to attend China’s commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the end of WWII. Photo: Sputnik/Kremlin/EPA

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and his daughter Ju-ae (second from left) arrive back in Pyongyang on Friday after returning from China. Photo: KCNA/KNS/AFP

Putin and French President Emmanuel Macron (right) meet in the Kremlin in Moscow in February 2022. Photo: Sputnik/Kremlin Pool/AP

News

Asia

East Asia

The device, seen at a hospital opening in North Korea, appears to be an ultra-thin ‘Magic’ foldable from Chinese tech giant Honor


The device, seen at a hospital opening in North Korea, appears to be an ultra-thin ‘Magic’ foldable from Chinese tech giant Honor.


Kim Yo-jong

Honor

Kim Jong-un

Kim’s sister spotted with suspected luxury Chinese foldable phone

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}The device, seen at a hospital opening in North Korea, appears to be an ultra-thin ‘Magic’ foldable from Chinese tech giant Honor

The device, seen at a hospital opening in North Korea, appears to be an ultra-thin ‘Magic’ foldable from Chinese tech giant Honor