N. Prabhakaran Dubai: South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS) reports that North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un has chosen his daug...
N. Prabhakaran
Dubai: South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS) reports that North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un has chosen his daughter, Kim Ju Ae, as his successor.
Concerns persist regarding Kim Jong Un's health, including issues like obesity and high blood pressure. Analysts believe his strategy is to prepare a successor in advance to ensure the country does not collapse in the event of a sudden power transition. Reports frequently surface regarding potential heart disease or other health complications. This "successor designation" is seen as a precaution to ensure power remains within the family should anything happen to him.
Thirteen-year-old Kim Ju Ae was recently seen alongside her father during major official events, including a visit to Beijing in September. This marked her first foreign trip. Observers believe the primary goal was to introduce Ju Ae to the Chinese leadership.
The South Korean intelligence agency noted that this assessment is based on the significant prominence given to Kim Ju Ae at official functions. Officials are now monitoring whether she will attend the Party Congress scheduled for the end of this month. This event, held every five years, is where North Korea discusses its foreign policy, war strategies, and nuclear objectives.
A Rising Leader
There are indications that the 13-year-old is already expressing her own opinions on certain government policies. Currently, Kim Ju Ae is regarded as the second most powerful leader in the country. She first appeared on official television in 2022, in a photograph holding her father's hand during a missile test.
Ju Ae’s presence in North Korean media has helped slightly soften Kim Jong Un’s image as a cruel dictator. She often appears with long hair and expensive designer clothing—styles not permitted for other children. Ju Ae is being presented as a new fashion icon in North Korea. While the government portrays her expensive Western attire as a symbol of North Korean modernization, observers are keen to see how the general public reacts, given the widespread poverty.
In recent photographs, she is seen standing taller than her father and walking beside him rather than behind him. It is extremely rare in North Korea for anyone else to receive equal visual importance to Kim Jong Un.
Breaking Tradition
In the heavily patriarchal North Korean society, the choice of a daughter over an eldest son is surprising. While Kim Jong Un is only 42, his decision to announce a 13-year-old as successor while still in power remains a mystery.
It is unclear what changes Ju Ae’s leadership might bring. Many hoped the country would open up when the Western-educated Kim Jong Un took power, but that did not happen.
Previously, during a visit to the memorial of her grandfather and great-grandfather, Kim Ju Ae stood in the center of the photograph—a position usually reserved solely for the ruler, signaling her entry into power. North Korean media has also begun referring to her as "Hyangdo" (Great Guidance), a title reserved only for the top leader or their successor.
Role of Kim Yo Jong
According to new data from South Korean intelligence, over 60% of Ju Ae’s public appearances are at military events. She is active in monitoring missile tests and military parades. Even Kim Jong Un’s powerful sister, Kim Yo Jong, now receives Ju Ae with immense respect at public events, indicating the girl's high rank within the regime.
The world is watching to see if she will be given an official title at the upcoming Party Congress. If so, she will move closer to becoming the first female ruler in North Korean history.
While South Korean intelligence has long believed Kim Jong Un has an older son, he has never been brought before the public. Analysts suggest two reasons:
He may have physical or mental health challenges.
Kim Jong Un may be using a daughter to project a "softer image" until a son is old enough to take a military leadership role.
The Future of the Regime
North Korea is a very conservative society. A female leader would be a revolutionary change. The regime is trying to convince the public that the "sacred bloodline" of the Kim family is more important than gender.
In the upcoming Party Congress, Ju Ae may be granted a "Youth League" position or a military oversight role. Since 80% of her appearances are military-related, her authority is being cemented there. Recently, generals were seen giving her a military salute, recognizing her as the future "Supreme Commander."
While she was previously called the "Beloved Daughter," the media now refers to her as the "Respected Daughter"—a title previously reserved only for Kim Jong Un.
By introducing Kim Ju Ae in front of an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM), Kim Jong Un sent a clear message: "The security of our future generation lies in these nuclear weapons." This serves as a declaration that North Korea will remain a nuclear power even when Ju Ae takes the reins.
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