North Korea’s Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un has given his sister more power by promoting her to the nation’s top decision-making body.
Kim Yo-jong, the youngest daughter of late leader Kim Jong-il, will be replacing her aunt as a member of the Workers Party’s Politburo.
Ms Kim, 30, was referred to as a senior party official three years ago.
The Kim family has ruled North Korea since the country was established following the Second World War in 1948.
Ms Kim, who has frequently appeared alongside her brother in public and is thought to have been responsible for his public image, was already influential as vice-director of the propaganda and agitation department.
She is blacklisted by the US over alleged links to human rights abuses in North Korea.
Her promotion was announced by Mr Kim at a party meeting on Saturday as part of a reshuffle involving dozens of other top officials.
The BBC’s Danny Savage says the move to elevate Ms Kim will be seen as further evidence of the Kim family’s iron grip on North Korea.
When Ms Kim was given a key post at the country’s rare ruling party congress last year, it was widely expected that she would take up an important role in the country’s core leadership.
Source: BBC
