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North Korea’s state-run newspaper the Rodong Sinmun reported on Thursday that Kim Yo-jong, younger sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, had been elected to the State Affairs Commission (SAC) during the second day of the fifth session of the 14th Supreme People's Assembly, which was held at the Mansudae Assembly Hall, in Pyongyang, on Sept. 29. (KCNA/Yonhap News)

Kim Yo-jong, younger sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, has been admitted to North Korea’s State Affairs Commission (SAC) for the first time. North Korea’s state-run newspaper the Rodong Sinmun reported on Thursday that Kim Yo-jong, vice department director for the Central Commission of the ruling Workers’ Party of Korea (WPK), was elected to the SAC on the second day of the fifth session of the 14th Supreme People’s Assembly, which was held at the Mansudae Assembly Hall, in Pyongyang, on Wednesday.

Under North Korea’s constitution, the SAC guides the cabinet while “discussing and deciding important policies of the State” (Article 110) as the “supreme policy-oriented leadership body with of State power” (Article 107). Kim Jong-un, along with being general secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea, is also the chairman of the SAC.

Kim Yo-jong’s ascension to the SAC can be regarded as having two-fold significance. First, Kim has now attained a position commensurate to her actual role not only in the party (as vice director of the Propaganda and Agitation Department) and in the legislature (as a deputy to the Supreme People’s Assembly) but also in the government (as a member of the SAC). Thus, her official authority and responsibility are increasing in scope.

Kim Yo-jong has been regarded as the de facto number-two figure in the Pyongyang regime. That’s both because she’s a member of the “Mount Baekdu bloodline” through Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il and also because she has played an active role at the center of power alongside her older brother Kim Jong-un.

Kim Yo-jong’s promotion to this high rank is also significant because it may position her to be a special envoy not only to South Korea but also to the US. South Korean government sources say that Kim Yo-jong’s election to the SAC may be a strategic move, laying the groundwork for Kim Jong-un to send his sister as a special envoy to the US at an appropriate time.

Kim Song-nam, director of the WPK International Department and a newly elected member of the State Affairs Commission (KCNA/Yonhap News)

It’s in that context that we should assess the fact that Kim Yo-jong is entering the SAC at the same time that First Vice Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui, regarded as one of the North’s top experts on the US, was removed from that body.

Kim Yo-jong visited South Korea as a member of a special delegation from Kim Jong-un in February 2018, but that delegation was headed by Kim Yong-nam, who had the high official rank of president of the Presidium of the Supreme People’s Assembly.

In a statement on July 10, 2020, Kim Yo-jong hinted at her willingness to visit the US by saying that she’d gotten Kim Jong-un’s permission to personally obtain a DVD containing recordings of celebrations of US Independence Day.

Choe Son-hui’s removal from the SAC can also be linked to the admission of Kim Song-nam, director of the WPK International Department. This is Kim Song-nam’s first term on the SAC, and he was also made chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee at the Supreme People’s Assembly. Kim, who supervises practical aspects of foreign policy for the WPK, is one of the North’s main China experts.

In short, North Korean experts on China are rising at the expense of experts on the US. That can be seen as reflecting Kim Jong-un’s attitude that “the current international situation is mainly characterized by the fact that it has got more complicated as the structure of the international relations has been reduced to the structure of ‘neo-Cold War.’”

Another new addition to the SAC is Jo Yong-won, a member of the presidium of the WPK Politburo and organizational secretary. Jo has been dubbed “Kim Jong-un’s shadow” because of how frequently he accompanies the North Korean leader.

Jo Yong-won, a member of the presidium of the WPK Politburo and a newly elected member of the State Affairs Commission (KCNA/Yonhap News)

Now Jo, just like Kim Yo-jong, has gained high official positions not only in the party and the legislature but also in the government. In effect, the two have become twin pillars propping up Kim Jong-un’s leadership, both in their nominal positions and their effective power.

Following the reshuffle, the SAC consists of 13 members: Kim Jong-un (president), Choe Ryong-hae (first vice president), Kim Tok-hun (vice president), Jo Yong-won, Park Jong-chon, O Su-yong, Kim Yong-chol, Kim Song-nam, Ri Yong-gil, Jong Kyong-thaek, Jang Jong-nam, Ri Son-gwon and Kim Yo-jong.

The members of the SAC who were replaced were WPK secretaries Ri Man-gon, Kim Yong-jun and Ri Pyong-chol — all WPK secretaries; Kim Su-gil, former chief secretary of the Pyongyang WPK City Committee; Kim Jong-gwan, former defense minister; Kim Jong-ho, former social security minister; Choe Son-hui; as well as Pak Pong-ju, former premier, and Kim Jae-ryong, director of the WPK Organization and Guidance Department, both of whom retired.

The new members are Kim Tok-hun, current premier; Park Jong-chon and O Su-yong, both party secretaries; current Minister of National Defense Ri Yong-gil; and Minister of Social Security Jang Jong-nam.

In a related development, Maeng Kyong-il was named a member of the standing committee at the Supreme People’s Assembly. As vice director of the WPK United Front Department, Maeng coordinates North Korea’s policy toward South Korea.

By Lee Je-hun, senior staff writer

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