SEOUL • Ms Kim Yo Jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, is pregnant with her second child, and disclosed this to South Korean officials during her visit to Seoul earlier this month, local media reported yesterday.

Ms Kim told Seoul officials that she was pregnant with her second child during her visit to the South between Feb 9 and 11, according to reports citing unnamed sources.

Ms Kim, who was there as Mr Kim Jong Un's special envoy, appeared to be experiencing some discomfort during the visit, prompting speculation that she may be pregnant.

During her visit, accompanied by the North's nominal head of state Kim Yong Nam, Ms Kim invited President Moon Jae In to Pyongyang on behalf of her brother.

The revelation that it was her second pregnancy, allegedly made by Ms Kim herself, would also confirm rumours that she had already given birth to a child.

It was rumoured that she had given birth to her first child sometime in 2015.

An anonymous government official was also quoted as saying that the fact that Mr Kim Jong Un sent his pregnant sister to the South shows the urgency with which Pyongyang is seeking relief from international sanctions.

KOREA HERALD/ASIA NEWS NETWORK