국정원 "북한 김정은, 김여정에 권한 위임…스트레스 탓"
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has delegated part of his governing authority to his closest aides - mostly sister Kim Yo-jong to break away from stress.
That's according to Seoul's intel agency during a closed-door briefing session to the National Assembly.
South Korea, however, denied any health problems of Kim Jong-un.
Our political correspondent Kim Mok-yeon has the details.
South Korea's National Intelligence Service says North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has entrusted a significant amount of his power to his sister Kim Yo-jong, making her practically second-in-charge.
The agency was briefing South Korean lawmakers Thursday at the National Assembly behind closed doors.,
After the briefing, lawmaker Ha Tae-kyung, with the main opposition United Future Party, spoke to reporters.
According to Ha, the NIS said that while Kim Jong-un hasn't officially made his sister his successor, he's practically made her manager of the regime's diplomacy.
As for others in the leadership, North Korea's economy is being overseen by the vice-chairman of the ruling Worker's Party, Pak Pong-ju and by Prime Minister Kim Tok-hun.
In charge of military affairs is the Party's military department director, Choe Pu-il .
As for the development of strategic weapons, Kim has assigned the Party's director of missile and nuclear weapons development, Ri Pyong-chol.
The South Korean lawmaker explained that Kim Jong-un has given these officials managerial roles but that ultimate power still belongs to Kim.
As for why Kim is delegating power, the lawmaker quoted the NIS as saying that Kim Jong-un probably wants to reduce his stress, having ruled the regime for nine years now. Ha said Kim probably also wants others to share responsibility in case his policies fail.
Regarding the COVID-19 situation, it's apparently caused foreign exchange shortages in the regime, judging by the decision to downsize major construction plans and the cutbacks at major agencies.
That's according to another lawmaker, Kim Byung-kee from the ruling Democratic Party, who was also briefed by the NIS.
Kim said the recent heavy rainfall on the Korean Peninsula also dealt the North a major blow, with severe damage done in the provinces of Hwanghae-do and Gangwon-do.
The damage to farmland is believed to be even worse than 2016, when the regime saw its worst flood damage on record.
Kim Mok-yeon, Arirang News.
