North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has delegated some of his authority to his younger sister Kim Yo-jong and his close aides, according to the South Korean spy agency, Thursday.
However, the move is believed to have nothing to do with the leader's health, it added.
“Kim Yo-jong, the first vice department director of the Central Committee of the ruling Workers' Party, is currently administering overall state affairs on behalf of her brother,” National Intelligence Service (NIS) officials were quoted as saying in a closed-door briefing to the National Assembly by Rep. Kim Byung-kee of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea and Rep. Ha Tae-keung of the main opposition United Future Party.
“But Kim Jong-un is not in poor health and he has not picked an heir to succeed him.”
The lawmakers added the power-sharing arrangement is aimed at relieving Kim of some of the stress coming from leading the totalitarian state for nine years, and averting accountability in the event of policy failure. Kim took over the regime in 2011 after the sudden death of his father, Kim Jong-il, who ruled the North from 1997 to 2011.
“Kim Jong-un still holds absolute power, but some of it has been handed over little by little,” Ha said.
“For example, Kim Yo-jong takes charge of affairs with South Korea and the United States, but she has to report on these to Kim Jong-un.”
According to the NIS, Kim Yo-jong has assumed the majority of the authority delegated by her brother, but she is not the only one who shares power with him.
“Pak Pong-ju, vice chairman of the State Affairs Commission, and the new Premier Kim Tok-hun have been put in charge of controlling the economic sector,” Ha said. “Choe Pu-il is responsible for domestic policing and security, and Ri Pyong-chol, vice chairman of the Central Military Commission, is handling military affairs at the ruling Workers' Party Central Committee.”
The lawmakers said the power delegation doesn't seem to mean the North Korean leader has health problems.
Earlier this year, Kim was absent from public view for nearly three weeks, raising speculation and rumors that he was gravely ill or had even died ― although he was looking healthy on his return.
The NIS also said the 5-megawatt nuclear reactor at the North's Yongbyon nuclear complex is not currently in operation. It also noted that the North Korean army's summertime military exercises have been slashed by 25 percent to 65 percent from the past.
According to the spy agency, the recent heavy rain wreaked havoc on farmland in Kangwon and Hwanghae provinces in the North. Due to the extended shutdown of borders (with China and Russia) due to fear of COVID-19, the North is also suffering a shortage of foreign exchange, it added.