By Micah Jonah, February 24, 2026
North Korean leader, Kim Jong Un has elevated his sister, Kim Yo Jong, to a higher position within the ruling Workers’ Party of Korea as he unveiled a new five year economic agenda at a key party congress in Pyongyang.
State media reported that the Workers Party Central Committee named Kim Yo Jong as a full department director, a promotion from her previous role as deputy department director. Analysts say the move further consolidates the influence of the Kim family within the party’s power structure.
The party congress, held once every five years, gathered thousands of party elites in the capital to outline national priorities ranging from economic planning to diplomatic strategy and defence policy.
Kim Jong Un was also re elected as the party’s secretary general, extending his
leadership of the country’s sole governing party, reinforcing his grip on power – more than a decade after assuming office.
Kim Yo Jong has long been regarded as one of her brother’s closest advisers and among the most influential figures in North Korea’s political hierarchy. She has frequently issued official statements on behalf of Pyongyang, particularly on matters relating to South Korea and the United States.
Observers believe she may take charge of the party’s propaganda department, a key organ responsible for shaping domestic messaging and overseeing external strategy.
In his address to the congress, Kim Jong Un described the next five years as a full scale progress phase, calling for reforms in thought, technology and culture to drive economic development and ensure better management of national projects.
The congress also received a congratulatory message from Chinese President, Xi Jinping on Kim’s re election as party leader, underscoring continued ties between Pyongyang and Beijing.
Attention has also focused on Kim Jong Un’s teenage daughter, Kim Ju Ae, who has appeared alongside her father at major state events in recent months, fueling speculation about succession planning within the ruling dynasty.
The latest reshuffle signals continuity in leadership while reinforcing the central role of the Kim family in North Korea’s political and economic direction.
