Front Spiral Daughter Kim Juae... Stamps and White Horse Appear
'Second-in-command' Younger Sister Kim Yo-jong Can't Even Get on the Presidium
Interpretation of Ri Sol-ju Soothing Fears of Kim Yo-jong's Power
[Asia Economy Reporter Jang Hee-jun] As North Korea focuses on promoting Kim Ju-ae, the daughter of Chairman Kim Jong-un, interpretations vary as Kim Yo-jong, the vice department head of the Workers' Party who was considered the 'second-in-command' of the regime, was relatively sidelined.
An official from the Ministry of Unification told reporters on the 14th, "A figure presumed to be Kim Yo-jong was confirmed in the parade footage."
A woman presumed to be Kim Yo-jong spotted on the screen of the North Korean military parade [Image source=Yonhap News]
Kim Yo-jong, who did not appear at the military parade commemorating the 75th anniversary of the founding of the Korean People's Army held on the 8th, was belatedly spotted pushed to the corner of the event venue. In the footage from Korean Central TV, Kim Yo-jong, wearing a black coat, is seen standing alone behind the soldiers gathered at the parade ground.
At that time, Kim Ju-ae was walking on the red carpet holding Chairman Kim's hand. After receiving praise and inspection from the military, she even went up to the presidium and touched her father's face without hesitation, repeatedly showing unprecedented staging.
Kim Yo-jong had previously assisted Chairman Kim closely or accompanied him to the presidium. Her position was so solid that analysts suggested she would be the first in line to inherit power if anything happened to Chairman Kim. However, she stepped back from the forefront of the parade and only watched the splendid appearance of her brother's family and young niece and nephew.
Regarding Kim Yo-jong's downgraded role to a working-level position, there are speculations that her status might have changed. Some foreign media have analyzed that Chairman Kim promoted Ju-ae to reassure Ri Sol-ju, who might have been concerned about Kim Yo-jong's influence.
However, the Ministry of Unification official showed caution, saying, "There is nothing special to evaluate at this stage regarding Kim Yo-jong not ascending to the presidium at this parade."
North Korean authorities' promotion of Kim Ju-ae is intensifying. On this day, North Korea unveiled a stamp design featuring Kim Ju-ae's photo and even showed a 'white horse' presumed to belong to Kim Ju-ae in the parade footage.
Because of this, succession rumors are being raised, but the general view remains that it is still 'premature.' Kim Bo-mi, a senior research fellow at the Institute for National Security Strategy, pointed out in a parade analysis report released the previous day that regarding the succession rumors surrounding Kim Ju-ae, "Kim Ju-ae acted freely throughout the parade, but it was difficult to find the restrained demeanor or attitude typically required of a successor."
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