＜North Korea＞ Kim Yo-jung Emerges as a Quasi-Supreme Leader...Has an Era of “Brother-Sister Rule” Officially Began

◆ North Korea’s Supreme Code

The law of the land in North Korea is not the Constitution nor the Charter of the Workers’ Party but, rather, the “Ten Great Principles of the Establishment of the Monolithic Leadership System of the Party.” The “Ten Great Principles” are treated with the highest level of confidentiality and are not published in state media.

Article 4-7 of the “Ten Great Principles” reads as follows. For your information, the word “party” refers to Kim Jong-un.

“The Party’s policies and directives must be strictly distinguished from those of individual officials…There should be no systematic delivery or collective discussion of individual officials' remarks, nor should terms such as "conclusion" or "command" be used.”

The article stipulates that the terms “command” and “delivery of commands” can only be used in reference to the Party, meaning Kim Jong-un.

However, on June 8, North Korean state media gave Kim Yo-jung special treatment by using such terms to describe her statement. In addition, following her remarks, young people and workers across the country were mobilized to attend protest rallies condemning North Korean defectors. At these rallies, Kim Yo-jung’s statement was recited to the gathered crowds.

In other words, the “delivery of commands”- a right reserved for solely the supreme leader- was extended to Kim Yo-jung. It can therefore be said that an era of “brother-sister rule,” with Kim Yo-jung as a quasi-supreme leader, has officially begun. (ISHIMARU Jiro)

Editor’s notes on North Korean reporters
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