Kim Yo-jong Appointed as State Affairs Commission Member... 'Core of National Governance'

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] Kim Yo-jong, Deputy Director of the Workers' Party, has become a key figure in 'core state governance' after being newly elected as a member of the State Affairs Commission, North Korea's highest decision-making body.

On the 30th, the Korean Central News Agency reported on the second day of the 5th session of the 14th Supreme People's Assembly, stating that "the Vice Chairman and members of the State Affairs Commission of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea were recalled and newly elected," confirming this development.

The newly appointed members of the State Affairs Commission include Party Secretaries Jo Yong-won, Pak Jong-chon, and O Su-yong, Minister of Defense Ri Yong-gil, Minister of Social Security Jang Jong-nam, Director of the Party's International Department Kim Song-nam, and Deputy Director Kim Yo-jong.

Particularly notable is the entry of Kim Yo-jong, the younger sister of Kim Jong-un, General Secretary of the Workers' Party. Her appointment to the State Affairs Commission is believed to be due to her role as Deputy Director of the Party's Propaganda and Agitation Department and her responsibilities overseeing inter-Korean and U.S.-related affairs. Professor Yang Moo-jin of the University of North Korean Studies explained, "Looking at the newly mentioned members of the State Affairs Commission, Jo Yong-won oversees internal affairs, Pak Jong-chon military matters, O Su-yong the economy, and Kim Song-nam international affairs, dividing responsibilities by sector. Assigning Kim Yo-jong to handle organization, propaganda, and U.S.-South Korea relations achieves functional differentiation."

With Kim Yo-jong's advancement to the State Affairs Commission, Choe Son-hui, First Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs who had led U.S. policy in the commission, has stepped down.

Some analysts interpret Kim Yo-jong's appointment to the State Affairs Commission as stemming from North Korea's 'Tongnam Paemi (통남배미)' strategy, meaning 'engaging South Korea while excluding the U.S.' Jeong Seong-jang, Director of the North Korea Research Center at the Sejong Institute, noted that this strategy was revealed in Kim Jong-un's policy speech at the Supreme People's Assembly. He said, "North Korea's replacement of members in the State Affairs Commission, recalling the U.S.-friendly Choe Son-hui and newly electing Kim Yo-jong, who has been deeply involved in North Korea's policy toward South Korea since last year, reaffirms the Tongnam Paemi strategy."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.