Kim Jong-un’s influential sister, increasingly powerful in North Korea

Kim Yo-jong, the influential sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, has been appointed a new member of the powerful State Affairs Committee, the country’s highest governing body.

According to state media, the Supreme People’s Assembly, the country’s one-party chamber, approved nine changes in the composition of the State Affairs Commission, including the appointment of Kim Yo Jong, your brother’s key advisor.

At the Supreme People’s Assembly (Parliament) session held in Pyongyang on Wednesday, Kim, along with six other officials, was elected as new members of the body that decides state policies, including those defense-related.

With Kim, two members of the powerful and exclusive presidium of the one-party politburo, Jo Jong-won and the military Pak Jong-chon, who in the summer was demoted by an incident related to the handling of the coronavirus pandemic but was later reinstated and became a member of the hard core of the unique training.

Kim Tok-hun, another member of the current presidium (consisting of four members and leader Kim Jong-un), was elected vice-chairman of the State Affairs Committee, replacing Pak Pong-ju, former prime minister and former member of the presidium.

La voz de la hermana menor by Kim Jong-un, que es también vicedirectora de departamento de propaganda en el influyente Comité Central del partido único desde 2014, ganó en los últimos años mucho peso en el Régimen, especialmente desde que comenzó a firmar comunicados el past year.

A few days ago posted a series of messages destined for Seoul In which he opened the door to improving relations with the neighboring country as long as the South Korean government softened its rhetoric towards the North.

Kim Jong-un himself endorsed the message during Wednesday’s parliamentary session, in which he announced the re-establishment in October of telematic communications with the neighboring country, cut since August, and urged Seoul to change its ” attitude “to amend the cross-border. connections.

Featured figure

Kim Yo Jong has already appeared on numerous occasions near his brother – with whom he was sent to study in Switzerland – such as during summits with then-US President Donald Trump or South Korean President Moon Jae- in.

For a long time there was speculation about his exact political role and the possibility that one day he will succeed his brother and become the first woman to rule the country.

On some occasions he has brought harsh accusations against Washington and Seoul, but due to his previously irrelevant position in the North Korean administration, there was some ambiguity as to whether he was speaking on their behalf or on their behalf. name of his brother.

His hierarchy has fluctuated over time, but the post at the State Affairs Committee is the biggest responsibility she has taken on so far.

Rejection of dialogue with the United States

In turn, Kim Jong-Un rejected the offer of “unconditional dialogue” that the United States has been offering for months in an attempt to reactivate the denuclearization talks, which have stalled since 2019, considering that Washington maintains its “policy intact. hostile “against Pyongyang.

Although the Supreme People’s Assembly claims to be the country’s legislative body, its function is actually to automatically endorse decisions taken by the top of the regime and the leader.

It usually meets once a year (usually in April) to discuss budgetary and organizational matters, although under Kim’s leadership it has exceptionally held two sessions in 2012, 2014, 2019 and 2021.

Source: EFE and AFP

CB