Kim Yo Jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, has been promoted to director of a department at the ruling Workers' Party of Korea, state media reported on Tuesday. The move came during a rare party congress in Pyongyang, further consolidating the Kim family's control over the isolated nation.
The 38-year-old, previously a vice department director, is expected to lead the propaganda department, focusing on inter-Korean relations and external strategies. She has been a key figure in issuing statements criticising South Korea and the United States on behalf of the North Korean government.
Her elevation follows her brother's re-election as general secretary of the party, a ceremonial but significant step. In a speech on Monday, Kim Jong Un outlined plans for a “full-scale progress phase” over the next five years, emphasising economic development and technological revolution.
The party congress, held every five years, serves as a platform to announce political, economic, and military priorities. State media lauded Kim Jong Un for strengthening North Korea's nuclear deterrence and military capabilities, while analysts expect him to unveil new goals for integrating conventional and nuclear forces.
Kim Jong Un's daughter, Kim Ju Ae, has also appeared at high-profile events, suggesting she is being groomed as a future leader. The Kim dynasty has ruled North Korea since its founding in the 1940s.
