Thought to be in her early 30s, Kim Yo Jong is the leader's only near relative with a general role in politics
Thought to be in her early 30s, Kim Yo Jong is the leader's only near relative with a general role in politics, recently spearheading a brand new, tougher campaign to put pressure on South Korea.
Ha Tae-keung, an opposition party lawmaker on parliament's intelligence ministry, told colleagues that Kim was helping to run the regime with faked authority from her brother.
"The bottom line is that Kim Jong Un still holds absolute power, but has turned into over a bit more of his authority compared to the past," Ha said, after a closed-door briefing from the South's National Intelligence Service.
"Kim Yo Jong is a de facto second-in-command," Ha added in a transcript of remarks seen by Reuters.
More authority on military and economic policy continues to be assigned to several other senior officials, but at a lower level, maybe to reduce strain on Kim Jong Un as well as help him avert blame for any failures, Ha said.
Kim Yo Jong won fame before her brother's 2019 summit with U.S. President Donald Trump in Vietnam, when her efforts to guarantee everything went nicely comprised holding an ashtray to the North Korean leader in a train station on his trip.
Her prominence at the campaign against South Korea this year emphasized a significant coverage role that goes beyond being only Kim's helper, analysts say.
She issued her first public statements to spray criticism at the neighbouring country, along with the North's state media portrayed her as playing with a decision-making role.
In July, she provided personal perspectives on diplomacy with the United States in an unusual statement in state media, stating her brother had given her special permission to watch recordings of that nation's Independence Day celebrations.
After rumours and speculation arose in April about Kim Jong Un's wellbeing, his sister had been seen a possible placeholder to take within the family dynasty until one of Kim's children is old enough.
Kim Yo Jong was absent, but from several recent high tech meetings, such as a plenary collecting of the ruling Workers' Party on Wednesday, said NK News, also a Seoul-based website that monitors North Korea.
That has stirred some speculation regarding a possible demotion.
Ha Tae-keung, an opposition party lawmaker on parliament's intelligence ministry, told colleagues that Kim was helping to run the regime with faked authority from her brother.
"The bottom line is that Kim Jong Un still holds absolute power, but has turned into over a bit more of his authority compared to the past," Ha said, after a closed-door briefing from the South's National Intelligence Service.
"Kim Yo Jong is a de facto second-in-command," Ha added in a transcript of remarks seen by Reuters.
More authority on military and economic policy continues to be assigned to several other senior officials, but at a lower level, maybe to reduce strain on Kim Jong Un as well as help him avert blame for any failures, Ha said.
Kim Yo Jong won fame before her brother's 2019 summit with U.S. President Donald Trump in Vietnam, when her efforts to guarantee everything went nicely comprised holding an ashtray to the North Korean leader in a train station on his trip.
Her prominence at the campaign against South Korea this year emphasized a significant coverage role that goes beyond being only Kim's helper, analysts say.
She issued her first public statements to spray criticism at the neighbouring country, along with the North's state media portrayed her as playing with a decision-making role.
In July, she provided personal perspectives on diplomacy with the United States in an unusual statement in state media, stating her brother had given her special permission to watch recordings of that nation's Independence Day celebrations.
After rumours and speculation arose in April about Kim Jong Un's wellbeing, his sister had been seen a possible placeholder to take within the family dynasty until one of Kim's children is old enough.
Kim Yo Jong was absent, but from several recent high tech meetings, such as a plenary collecting of the ruling Workers' Party on Wednesday, said NK News, also a Seoul-based website that monitors North Korea.
That has stirred some speculation regarding a possible demotion.