(LEAD) N. Korean leader's sister Kim Yo-jong promoted to party department head at congress

▲ This undated file image captured from the website of the Korean Central News Agency shows Kim Yo-jong, the powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)

▲ This image of Kim Yo-jong was published by the Korean Central News Agency on Feb. 24, 2026. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)

(LEAD) NK leader sister-promotion

(LEAD) N. Korean leader's sister Kim Yo-jong promoted to party department head at congress

(ATTN: UPDATES throughout with more info, photo)

By Park Boram

SEOUL, Feb. 24 (Yonhap) -- The powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, Kim Yo-jong, has been promoted to department head at the ruling Workers' Party of Korea during the ongoing party congress, state media reported Tuesday.

The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) published a press release from the first plenary meeting of the ninth central committee of the ruling party, naming Kim Yo-jong as one of the 17 newly elected department directors of the party's new central committee.

She was previously vice department director at the committee.

The KCNA did not reveal which party department Kim Yo-jong was appointed to head, but experts presume it might be the propaganda department where she has been serving. In her new role, she is likely to oversee inter-Korean relations or external strategies.

At the plenary meeting, she was also reelected as an alternate member of the central committee's political bureau, marking her return to the post after five years.

The plenary meeting was held the previous day as part of the ongoing party congress, which kicked off last Thursday to review policy outcomes from the previous 2021 congress and set new goals for the next five years.

Party secretary for organization Jo Yong-won, known as one of leader Kim's closest aides, retained his seat on the presidium of the party Politburo, but was removed as secretary.

The move is likely a step toward Jo's appointment as chairman of the standing committee of North Korea's Supreme People's Assembly after Choe Ryong-hae was relieved of the post earlier at the congress.

Following the conclusion of the congress, the North is expected to form a new parliament and pursue a constitutional revision or other measures to reflect the results from the party meeting.

The KCNA report showed the presidium of the party's politburo is composed of leader Kim, Jo, Premier Pak Thae-song as well as party secretaries Kim Jae-ryong and Ri Il-hwan.

Having been appointed to the Party Politburo and Central Military Commission, Kim Song-gi appears to have taken over as director of the General Political Bureau of the Korean People's Army following the departure of his predecessor Jong Kyong-thaek.

The personnel decision did not include Ju-ae, Kim's daughter, who is assessed to be likely to become Kim's heir.

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