"Kim Yo Jong is a de facto second-in-command," Ha [Tae-keung, an opposition party legislator on the South Korean parliament's intelligence committee] added, in a transcript of remarks seen by the Reuters news agency.

More authority on economic and military policy has also been delegated to several other senior officials, although at a lower level, possibly to reduce strain on Kim Jong Un as well as help him avoid blame for any failures, Ha said.