Kim Jong-il was said to have died suddenly of a heart attack, though he had been dying of cancer for some time – a subterfuge aimed at concealing Kim Kyong-hui’s de facto leadership during her brother’s cancer treatments. Moreover, before he died, Kim Jong-il made a supreme effort to prepare the ground for his sister to continue as the key decision-maker, even under Kim Jong-un.
显然，关于她消失的真相在相当一段时间内都无法水落石出。金正日据闻死于心脏病突发，但此前已因癌症生命垂尾——这无非是个花招，意在隐瞒兄长癌症病重期间金敬姬实质掌权的真相。此外，在金正恩死亡之前，他做了相当多的安排，为其妹在金正恩上台后继续担任关键决策者铺平道路。他清洗了可能威胁她的领导人，包括李勇哲和李继刚等要员。