North Korea: Kim Jong-un's sister Kim Yo-jong becomes de facto second-in-command

North Korea’s ruler Kim Jong-un’s younger sister Kim Yo-jong, has become his de facto second-in-command. This move is intended to reduce the strain on Kim who was recently rumoured to be going through health issues.

According to Ha Tae-Keung, a South Korean MP, Kim Yo-jong is helping to run the regime with the blessing of her brother. He further added that Kim’s younger sister rose through the ruling party ranks, accompanying her brother 2019 nuclear summit with Donald Trump in Vietnam.

Kim has given up a degree of authority to his sister, however, he still holds absolute powers. As per The Guardians, Ha said that after a closed-door briefing by South Korea’s national intelligence service, Kim Yo-jong became de facto second-in-command.

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Ha further continued that Kim has also delegated some decision making powers over economic and military policy to other senior officials. Kim Yo-jong, who is believed to be in her early 30s, appeared to be directing policy towards Washington and Seoul, there were no signs that she was being groomed for the leadership or that her brother Kim Jong-un was in poor health.

Kim Yo-jong now has responsibility for Pyongyang's policy towards the US and South Korea, among other policy issues. However, some analysts have been sceptical of the intelligence, with website NKNews noting that she appeared to have missed two important meetings this month, leading to speculation from some observers that she may have been demoted.

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