Experts on North Korea are starting to consider the possibility of Kim Jong Un's daughter, Kim Ju-ae, succeeding him. Initially, the South Korean government thought this was highly unlikely. However, recent developments in North Korea have changed their opinion, as there has been increased admiration and idolization of Kim Ju-ae by the regime.
On Dec. 3, South Korea's Director of the National Security Office, Cho Tae-yong, appeared on KBS TV's 'Sunday Diagnosis Live' and made an interesting acknowledgment.
He pointed out that the Rodong Sinmun, a North Korean newspaper that serves as the official newspaper of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, had recently published a photo with significant implications.
The photo Cho referred to was taken on Nov. 30 during Aviation Day in North Korea. That day, Kim Jong Un and his daughter visited a major Air Force facility and observed pilots training.
In the photo, Kim Ju-ae stands before Kim Jong Un, wearing sunglasses and a leather coat, just like her father. Kim Ju-ae has been photographed dozens of times in North Korean media, but her place has always been next to or behind Kim Jong Un. This time, however, she is the center of attention. It is highly unusual for the North Korean regime to display a photo of Kim Jong Un in the background publicly.
Cho explained, "We can't be 100 percent sure, but with this photo, we're at the point where we're saying, 'Kim Joo-ae seems to be the successor, right?'"
He said, "Not too long ago, we were questioning, 'Is Kim Joo-ae the successor?'"
"Based on the way North Korea has introduced Kim Ju-ae to the public, it does not appear that Kim Jong Un and his wife Ri Sol-ju have a son," said a former senior intelligence official from South Korea.
"By introducing Kim Ju-ae at a young age, they may be trying to prepare for the succession over a longer period and make it easier for the people to accept having a 'daughter' as a leader and consider it a natural occurrence."
However, Kim Ju-ae's succession to Kim Jong Un's leadership in North Korea remains a topic of discussion among some experts. Some believe it is unlikely for a female leader to emerge due to North Korea's deeply patriarchal culture.
Kim Heung-kwang, the head of North Korea Intellectuals Solidarity (NKIS), a group of North Korean dissidents living in South Korea, is among those who think the idea of a female successor is ridiculous, especially considering Kim Jong Un's young age, in his 40s.
"Kim Ju-ae is only being used as a pawn in Kim Jong Un's political strategy to maintain a certain image," Kim said.