Kim Yo Jong, the sister of North Korea’s chief Kim Jong Un. File
| Picture Credit score: Reuters
The highly effective sister of North Korean chief Kim Jong Un has been given a promotion within the ruling get together construction throughout a uncommon get together congress, State media reported on Tuesday (February 24, 2026).
The Employees’ Get together Central Committee on Monday (February 23) named Kim Yo Jong – beforehand a deputy division director – as a full division director, Pyongyang’s official Korean Central Information Company (KCNA) stated.
1000’s of get together elites have packed the capital Pyongyang for a once-in-five-years summit of the ruling Employees’ Get together, a gathering that directs state efforts on all the pieces from diplomacy to conflict planning.
The congress presents a uncommon glimpse into the political workings of reclusive North Korea and is broadly seen as a discussion board for Mr. Kim to flex his grip on energy.
Kim Yo Jong has lengthy been amongst her brother’s closest lieutenants and one of the vital influential girls within the remoted regime.
Born within the late Eighties, based on the South Korean authorities, she is one in every of three kids born to Mr. Kim’s father and predecessor, Kim Jong Il, and his third recognized companion, former dancer Ko Yong Hui.
She was educated in Switzerland alongside her brother and rose quickly up the ranks as soon as he inherited energy after their father’s loss of life in 2011.
In 2018, she visited South Korea for the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics throughout a interval of inter-Korean rapprochement.
Pyongyang additionally regularly makes use of her title to difficulty statements outlining its positions or criticising the South and the U.S.
Inheritor obvious
Later within the days-long congress, Kim Jong Un is predicted to unveil the following section in North Korea’s nuclear weapons programme.
The nation’s nuclear arsenal has been remodeled beneath Mr. Kim from a supply of delicate international concern to one thing handled as a real menace.
It’s simply the ninth time the Employees’ Get together congress has convened beneath North Korea’s decades-spanning Mr. Kim rule.
Specific consideration may also be positioned on the whereabouts of Kim’s teenage daughter Ju Ae, who has emerged as North Korea’s inheritor obvious, based on Seoul’s nationwide intelligence service.
On the earlier congress 5 years in the past, Mr. Kim declared that the USA was his nation’s “greatest enemy”.
There may be eager curiosity in whether or not Mr. Kim may use the congress to melt this stance, or double down.
U.S. President Donald Trump stepped up his courtship of Mr. Kim throughout a tour of Asia final 12 months, saying he was “100%” open to a gathering.
Mr. Kim has to this point largely shunned efforts to renew top-level diplomatic dialogue.
Printed – February 24, 2026 08:41 am IST