An analysis suggests that Kim Yo-jong, the Director of the Department of Organization and Guidance of North Korea’s Workers’ Party, has expanded her influence to unprecedented levels. However, experts argue that this increase in power is distinct from the succession dynamics involving Kim Jong Un’s daughter, Ju Ae.
The Committee for Human Rights in North Korea (HRNK), a U.S.-based non-profit research organization, released a report on March 4 indicating that Kim Yo-jong’s influence within the party has significantly grown. This follows her promotion to Director of the Central Committee’s Department of Organization and Guidance and her reinstatement as an alternate member of the Politburo during the 9th Party Congress held last month.
The report emphasizes that while Kim Yo-jong previously served as the Deputy Director of the Propaganda and Agitation Department, handling external messaging, her new role as Director provides a different power base. Unlike an alternate member of the Politburo, who can participate in policy discussions without voting rights, the Director can exert substantial influence over the party’s overall operations.
The Department of Organization and Guidance oversees administrative, financial, and logistical support for the party leadership. It manages internal documents, record-keeping, and communication between leaders. Crucially, this department is responsible for recording and preserving the statements and directives of supreme leaders, including Kim Il Sung, Kim Jong Il, and Kim Jong Un, as well as managing document transmission between central party agencies.
According to the report, the Director also manages part of the Central Committee’s budget and coordinates the procurement and supply of materials for the party’s headquarters. This role forms a structure that supports party operations alongside key departments such as the Organization and Guidance Department and the Propaganda and Agitation Department.
The report highlights that during this party congress, several high-ranking officials with extensive experience, including Choe Ryong-hae, Ri Byong-chol, Kim Yong-chol, and Ri Son-gwon, stepped down from frontline positions. In North Korea, retiring senior officials often face complete exclusion from power without pensions or benefits, suggesting a generational shift in leadership.
Furthermore, the report analyzes how Kim Jong Un’s close aides, including Jo Yong-won, Kim Jae-ryong, Ri Il-hwan, and Jong Kyung-taek, have either been promoted or maintained key positions, forming the core of power.
HRNK assesses that in this context, Kim Yo-jong’s simultaneous roles as an alternate member of the Politburo and Director of the Department of Organization and Guidance have amplified her influence more than ever before.
The report also notes that Kim Jong Un’s daughter, Ju Ae, is being mentioned as a potential successor. While Kim Yo-jong’s authority has expanded, it appears to serve more as a supporting role within the Kim family’s dynastic system rather than forming an independent power base.
HRNK suggests that this power arrangement may aim to prevent Kim Yo-jong from emerging as a rival and to stabilize future succession dynamics. The report also warns that if Kim Yo-jong were to make political missteps or poor judgments, she could face severe consequences.
