Kim Jong-Un has promoted his pop-star ex-girlfriend to a position in his government’s powerful inner circle.
Hyon Song-wol, the former leader of Moranbong, an all-female pop group and North Korea‘s version of the Spice Girls, was promoted to the Workers Party’s Central Committee on Saturday.
The move comes during a major shakeup of the nation’s government as Kim promotes a number of close aides to positions of power.
Hyon courted controversy during a trip to China, in December 2012, when she refused to play because Chinese officials demanded a change of Moranbong’s repertoire.
The performer was said to storm off stage and ordered her band-mates to pack up and leave after the group was asked to change their routine and the backdrop of images of missile launches.
One source said: ‘She was probably acting on orders, but that she was able to blatantly refuse China’s demands shows the amount of trust Kim Jong-un has in her.’
Moranbong were unveiled in 2012 and supposedly put together by Kim himself.
The band, which is believed to have around 18 members, was likely designed to try to show a modernisation of the arts in North Korea.
While Hyon has been chosen for a higher role, others benefiting from Kim’s shake-up include his sister Kim Yo Jong, 30.
It marks a return to favour two years after she was fired as Kim’s propaganda chief due to a series of security blunders at rallies around the country.