North Korean state propaganda has increasingly featured a young girl, believed to be Kim Ju Ae, the daughter of leader Kim Jong Un. Her presence at significant state events, including intercontinental ballistic missile launches and military parades, has sparked debate among international observers and intelligence communities about her potential role as a successor. The girl's public emergence is a significant departure from the secrecy surrounding previous leadership transitions in North Korea.
Kim Ju Ae's existence was first revealed to the world through Dennis Rodman, the former NBA player, who met her as a baby during a visit to Pyongyang over a decade ago. While the North Korean state has not officially named her, she is widely reported to be approximately 13 years old and is increasingly seen alongside her father, sometimes wearing matching outfits or receiving salutes from high-ranking officials. These public displays are considered unusual, particularly for a child of her age.
The sudden spotlight on Kim Ju Ae, coupled with past rumors about Kim Jong Un's health, has led to widespread speculation. Analysts are debating whether Kim Jong Un is simply showcasing his daughter or actively grooming her to take over the leadership of North Korea, a country with a deeply patriarchal society where women rarely hold positions of power.
Independent journalist and author Anna Fifield, who has written extensively on Kim Jong Un, discussed the situation on the "Today, Explained" podcast. Fifield noted that North Korea's succession process has never been straightforward. Kim Jong Un himself was largely hidden from public view before being designated as his father's successor, a process that was ultimately rushed due to his father's ill health.
Fifield suggests that Kim Jong Un may be attempting to avoid a similar rushed and difficult transition for his own heir. Despite Kim Jong Un being in his mid-40s and not appearing particularly healthy, he is not expected to relinquish power imminently. However, Fifield posits that he may be laying the groundwork for his daughter to assume leadership in the future, a prospect complicated by the dynastic nature of the regime and the deeply ingrained patriarchal structures of North Korean society.
Kim Ju Ae's public appearances began nearly three years ago. Initially, her presence at events like missile launches was met with skepticism, as it seemed improbable that a young girl would be positioned as a potential leader. However, as her appearances have become more frequent and she has been referred to as a "beloved daughter" in state media, the possibility of her being groomed for succession has gained traction. This shift in perception has moved from "quite unlikely" to "seeming increasingly inevitable that he will try, at least, to have her takeover."
Information about Kim Jong Un's other children remains unknown, highlighting the general lack of human intelligence within North Korea. The images released by state media, which are carefully curated, appear to aim at shaping the perception of Kim Ju Ae. She bears a striking resemblance to her mother, Ri Sol Ju, who herself took on a more prominent public role. The regime seems to be conveying an image of Kim Ju Ae as a modern representative of a changing North Korea, blending the casual style seen with her father and the more refined appearance associated with her mother.
Despite the historical precedent of Kim Jong Un consolidating power despite his youth and lack of experience, Fifield expresses skepticism about the likelihood of the military and elite rallying behind a young female leader in North Korea's deeply conservative and Confucian society, which traditionally values age and masculinity. While acknowledging that "never say never," she views a female succession as "extremely, extremely difficult" given the regime's anachronistic nature.