The U.S. magazine Newsweek says real power in North Korea will pass to leader Kim Jong-il's brother-in-law Jang Song-thaek, not to son and expected heir Jong-un.

In the article "The Regent Behind the Son," Newsweek said the historic conference of the North's Korean Workers’ Party this week is "Kim Jong-il’s coming-out party for his third son and heir apparent Kim Jong-un."

But it said that a player at the center of this uncertain power struggle is 64-year-old Jang Song-thaek, Kim's brother-in-law who has over the last couple of years become his right-hand man and has been groomed to be the regent for the younger Kim.

The article said that the younger Kim cannot match his father’s power base or charisma and that he has never played a role in the far-reaching military apparatus.

The report says Jang, the anointed caretaker, was promoted in June to vice chairman of the National Defense Commission --- which controls the military --- making him the second most-powerful man in the country.