Kim Ju-ae Steps Ahead of North Korea's Kim Jong-un... Strengthening 'Successor Theory'

Title 'Jajebun' → 'Saetbyeol Yeo Janggun'... Beginning of Idolization?
Taeyoungho "May Have Completed Successor Appointment Procedure"
Jotaeyong "At the Stage of Examining Whether Kim Juae Is the Successor"

Kim Ju-ae, daughter of North Korean State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong-un, has been appearing in public for over a year, fueling speculation about her as a successor. Following analyses suggesting that internal idolization efforts have begun with her being dubbed the "Rising Star Female General," a photo was released in the media highlighting her prominence, standing ahead of her father Kim Jong-un as the main figure.

Kim Ju-ae first appeared last November at the launch site of a new intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) and has since appeared 19 times in North Korean media over the past year.

At the time of her first appearance, most opinions were skeptical about her potential as a successor. The main reasons cited were her gender and age. In the patriarchal North Korean society, the likelihood of a female leader emerging is considered slim, and above all, Kim Ju-ae was only about 10 years old and still a minor.

The Korean Central News Agency reported on the 1st that Chairman Kim visited the Korean People's Army Air Force Command and other locations on the 30th of last month to celebrate and encourage all the heroic personnel of the People's Air Force in honor of Aviation Day (November 29).
[Image source=Yonhap News]

However, signs of Kim Ju-ae’s rising status have gradually been observed. The first is the change in her position. During the 75th anniversary military parade of the Korean People's Army in February, Kim Ju-ae sat in the VIP section of the presidium alongside her mother Ri Sol-ju and other officials to watch the event.

But at the 75th anniversary parade of the founding of the North Korean regime in September, she was positioned at the very center of the presidium’s special seat alongside her father Kim Jong-un and key military commanders. In footage released that day, Park Jong-chon, the military political director of the Workers' Party who is the second-in-command of the North Korean military, was seen whispering into Kim Ju-ae’s ear while kneeling on one knee. This was interpreted as a sign of elevated respect toward Kim Ju-ae.

Especially in a photo released by the Korean Central News Agency on November 1 showing her observing a demonstration flight on Aviation Day (November 29), Kim Ju-ae was highlighted as the main figure. Previously, she had been seen beside or behind Kim Jong-un, but in this photo, she stands at the center wearing a leather coat and sunglasses similar to those worn by her father. Given the nature of the North Korean regime, it is extremely unusual to publicly release a photo where the leader Kim Jong-un is positioned behind someone else.

On the evening of September 8, a civil defense military parade marking the 75th anniversary of the regime's establishment (September 9) was held at Kim Il-sung Square in Pyongyang, attended by Chairman of the State Affairs Commission Kim Jong-un and his daughter Ju-ae, according to a report by the Korean Central News Agency on September 9. [Image source=Yonhap News]

The second sign is a change in how she is addressed. When she first appeared last year, she was called "beloved daughter," but this was later elevated to "honored daughter." At the end of last month, the US-based Radio Free Asia (RFA) reported that at a celebratory lecture for the successful launch of a military reconnaissance satellite, Kim Ju-ae was referred to by the title "Rising Star Female General of Joseon."

"Rising Star" was a title used to promote Kim Il-sung’s early revolutionary activities. Before his appointment as successor, Kim Jong-un was also called "Commander Kim" and "Hanbyeol" (One Star). Tae Yong-ho, a former North Korean diplomat and current member of the South Korean National Assembly, said in an interview on KBS's "Special 1 Radio Today" on the 4th, "When Kim Jong-il was appointed successor, he was given titles like Bright Star and Star. If it is true that Kim Ju-ae has been given the title of Rising Star Female General, it means that internally the process of appointing her as successor has been completed."

Tae explained, "The first title Kim Jong-un received in January 2009 was Commander Kim. At that time, the internal decision to appoint Kim Jong-un as successor had already been made, and only the formal announcement at the Party plenary meeting remained."

The government also appears to have changed its assessment of Kim Ju-ae. On the 3rd, National Security Office Director Cho Tae-yong appeared on KBS's "Sunday Diagnosis Live" and said, "There are still some unclear and questionable points, so it is not right to be 100% certain," but added, "Until recently, we wondered 'Could Kim Ju-ae be the successor?' but now we are at the stage of asking 'It seems Kim Ju-ae is the successor, is that correct?'"

Earlier, Unification Minister Kim Young-ho also said, "We must not rule out the possibility that Kim Ju-ae will become the successor." At a meeting with reporters marking his 100th day in office on the 6th of last month, Minister Kim said, "She has appeared 16 times in North Korean media reports, and ultimately, this is to show the intention of succession both domestically and internationally by continuously featuring her," adding, "Because the North Korean regime lacks achievements and legitimacy to maintain itself, they are emphasizing the intention of succession by introducing Kim Ju-ae to induce loyalty from residents and elites."