Amid reports that North Korean supreme leader Kim Jong-Un is in a coma, South Korea’s defence minister has pointed towards the rising role of Kim’s sister Kim Yo Jong, who he says has likely been given charge of the powerful Organization and Guidance Department (OGD) of the North Korean Worker’s Party—the ruling political body that is charged with implementing the directives and teachings of the Party ideology.
Addressing South Korea’s national assembly, Defence Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo responded to a question on whether Kim Yo Song had a substantial grip on the OGD, noting however that Kim Jong-Un remains in charge of the party, regime and military, having only delegated some “roles and responsibilities” to his aides, news agency Yonhap reported.
South Korea's intelligence agency had earlier stated that Kim Jong-Un had delegated some of his responsibilities to his sister.
Reports of Kim’s disappearance flooded the media in April, when the supreme leader went missing for nearly three weeks before reappearing (prompting some to believe he had died and was replaced by a body double). He also missed a significant occasion, that of the birth anniversary of his grandfather Kim Il Sung, prompting speculation that he had undergone a heart surgery (which south Korean intelligence agencies later denied).
Kim’s disappearance in April also prompted speculation that his sister would replace him.
An aggregator of official North Korean press releases, KCNA, continues to publish news about Kim Jong-Un—on Tuesday, Kim reportedly published “many works for strengthening revolutionary armed forces”. On Monday, he reportedly sent a birthday spread to a centenarian. However, Chang Song-min, a former advisor to South Korea’s late president Kim Dae-jung, says recent photos of Kim were “faked”. Song-min is also a prominent source of claims that Kim is in a coma.
In addition to Kim Yo Song, North Korea’s No. 3 leader, Pak Pong-ju, vice chairman of the State Affairs Commission, was also publicly seen along with the Premier Kim Tok-hun at a site inspection—a joint visit considered rare, according to Yonhap.
