Kim Jong-Un Delegating Powers To Sister: Korean Intelligence Agency

South Korean news outlet Yonhap is reporting that according to sources within the Korean Intelligence Agency, North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un has delegated the management of relations with South Korea to his sister Kim Yo Jong.

• Kim Yo Jong is believed to have become heavily involved in the operation of the North Korean gov't while her brother recovered from an unconfirmed medical condition earlier in the year. However, she is not the only individual who is having powers passed down from the Supreme Leader, with Kim Jong Un supposedly seeking to reduce his burden of state affairs.
• This comes as North Korean state media announces a Workers' Party congress to take place in January 2021. The stated intention of the congress is to set out a new Five-Year Plan following relatively candid language from the North Korean leader at a plenary session of the party Central Committee on August 19.
• Kim stated that "The economy was not improved in the face of the sustaining severe internal and external situations and unexpected manifold challenges," and acknowledged that the "planned attainment of the goals for improving the national economy have been seriously delayed and the people's living standard not been improved remarkably,"
• The timing of the congress also coincides with the inauguration of the US president following the November election. As such, the event could be used as an indicator to Washington D.C, of the intentions of the NK gov't with regard to relations under the continuation of the Trump administration or a new Biden administration.