국정원 "북한 김정은, 김여정에 권한 위임…스트레스 탓"<br /><br />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.<br />That's according to Seoul's intel agency during a closed-door briefing session to the National Assembly.<br />South Korea, however, denied any health problems of Kim Jong-un.<br />Our political correspondent Kim Mok-yeon has the details.<br />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.<br />The agency was briefing South Korean lawmakers Thursday at the National Assembly behind closed doors.,<br />After the briefing, lawmaker Ha Tae-kyung, with the main opposition United Future Party, spoke to reporters.<br />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.<br />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.<br />In charge of military affairs is the Party's military department director, Choe Pu-il .<br />As for the development of strategic weapons, Kim has assigned the Party's director of missile and nuclear weapons development, Ri Pyong-chol.<br />The South Korean lawmaker explained that Kim Jong-un has given these officials managerial roles but that ultimate power still belongs to Kim.<br />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.<br />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.<br />That's according to another lawmaker, Kim Byung-kee from the ruling Democratic Party, who was also briefed by the NIS.<br />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.<br />The damage to farmland is believed to be even worse than 2016, when the regime saw its worst flood damage on record.<br />Kim Mok-yeon, Arirang News.<br />
