Seoul, May 1 (TIWN) Kim Yo-jong, the younger sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, has been seen exerting increasing clout in Pyongyang as of late, raising the possibility of her succeeding her brother amid speculation that he may be seriously unwell, a Sotuh Korean legislative think tank has said.

In an analysis report of the latest meeting of the North's Supreme People's Assembly held earlier this month, South Korea's National Assembly Research Services on Wednesday projected that the 32-year-old Kim Yo-jong's reappointment to the Workers' Party politburo "will strengthen the governing foundation of the Paekdu bloodline (in North Korea)", reports Yonhap News Agency.  The Kim dynasty is often referred to as the "Paekdu bloodline" in the North, as Mount Paekdu, while widely disputed by outside experts, is known in the country as the birthplace of Kim Il-sung, the nation's late founder. 

"This suggests the possibility of expanding her status and role as official successor," the report said.  The report comes amid media speculation that Jong-un might be seriously ill.  Unconfirmed rumours spiked after he skipped an annual visit to the mausoleum of his grandfather Kim Il-sung on the late national founder's April 15 birth anniversary, the North's most important national holiday, Yonhap News Agency reported.