North Korea: Does Kim Jong-un want his daughter to be his successor?

Recently, the daughter of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s daughter appeared in public twice within a week, leading to much speculation that she was raised to be her father’s successor.

The country’s state media did not reveal the young woman’s name or age, describing her only as the leader’s “most loved” daughter.

North Korean state news agency KCNA reported that in late November, Kim and his daughter met with soldiers, scientists, and others involved in the launch of the Hwasong-17 missile earlier that month.

The most recent KCNA photos were undated, but Kim and her daughter stood in front of a crowd “filled with boundless passion and happiness,” expressing “the greatest glory and ardent respect for him”, according to the agency.

Little is known about the young woman. Her name was never officially revealed, but her name is believed to be Kim Ju-ae.

So what do we know about Kim Jong-un’s daughter?

First mentioned in 2013

Kim Jong-un leads one of the countries that try the hardest to keep everything that goes on within its borders secret, and little is known about his private life.

In July 2012, North Korea confirmed that Ri Sol-ju was Kim’s wife, a month after she first appeared with him in public.

Since then, South Korean media have claimed that the couple has three children (two girls and a boy) with the eldest being Ju-ae.

Dennis Rodman, a retired American basketball player who was in North Korea for a “diplomatic basketball tour” in September 2013, told the British newspaper The Guardian that “Kim has a daughter”.

“I held baby Ju-ae in my arms and talked to her too. [a esposa de Kim]???????? He’s a good father and he has a nice family,” Rodman told the newspaper.

At the time, there was no official response or confirmation from North Korea to Rodman’s comments.

2022: First appearance

Then, for the first time, on November 19 this year, KCNA released several photos of father and daughter confirming long-standing rumors of their existence.

State media reported that the duo had met with officials the previous day, inspected the missiles and watched an ICBM launch from an observation deck.

However, he did not provide further details.

Michael Madden, a North Korea expert at the Stimson Center in Washington, United States, believes the girl is between the ages of 12 and 13.

For Madden, the young woman’s public appearance may be Kim Jong-un’s message that the “fourth generation in power will be descended from my (blood)”.

“The disclosure of Kim Jong-un’s daughter concerns North Korean analysts much more than news that the country has successfully launched its most powerful intercontinental ballistic missile,” said Jean MacKenzie, BBC’s Seoul correspondent.

“Does this mean that he has been chosen as Kim Jong-un’s successor and will one day rule North Korea?”

2022: Second appearance

Just a week after the first photos of the father and daughter were released, KCNA released a series of photos of the duo.

Again, neither his age nor his name is mentioned. This time, however, she was described as Kim Jong-un’s “most loved” or “precious” daughter.

“This is absolutely impressive. A photograph of Kim Ju-ae standing next to her father as the technicians and scientists involved in the latest ICBM launch celebrate the success supports the idea that this is the beginning of her positioning as a possible successor.” Ankit Panda, an expert at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, told NBC:

However, some analysts warn that it is too early to say whether he will replace Kim Jong-un in power.

South Korean Chun Su-jin, who is the author of a book about North Korean female leaders, said in an interview with Reuters news agency that the country’s elites are unlikely to accept Kim’s daughter as ruler.

“The country is not ready for a leader of the opposite sex” [uma mulher]”, aforementioned. “[Kim] He’s trying to prove that he’s a loving father, not just a ruthless missile-throwing dictator.”

“Gender is still important to be a leader in North Korea,” explains North Korean defector Hyun In-ae, who now works at the Ewha Institute for Unification Studies in Seoul, South Korea.

Already today, there is a woman in the North Korean regime that has caught the world’s attention for several years: Kim’s sister, Kim Yo-jong.

Kim Yo-jong: Strong Brother

When rumors and speculations surfaced about Kim Jong-un’s health in 2020, his sister Kim Yo-jong was seen as a potential replacement to take over the family dynasty until one of Kim’s children was old enough.

Kim Yo-jong held a high position in the regime for a while. He had recently threatened South Korea because of the sanctions imposed on North Korea.

But BBC reporter Jean Mackenzie says it’s clear that the reveal of Kim Jong-un’s daughter raises more questions.

“Why are you showing him now? He’s still very young. If he’s preparing him to take office, does that mean the 38-year-old leader has health problems?”

“His health is the subject of much speculation because that seems to be the biggest risk to the stability of the regime,” adds Mackenzie.