NYT: "The Girl Beside Her Father Emerges as a Leading Successor"
Most Photos of Kim Juae Are Military-Related, Expanding Diplomatic Role
Asahi Shimbun Also Highlights "Leader and Successor"
The New York Times (NYT) has placed a spotlight on Kim Ju Ae, the second daughter of North Korean State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jongun, highlighting her emergence as a leading successor. According to Yonhap News, on August 8 (local time), the NYT's online edition published an article titled "How North Korea Is Elevating Kim Jongun’s Beloved Daughter as His Successor."
On April 26, North Korea's Korean Central TV reported that a launching ceremony for the new 5,000-ton class multipurpose destroyer "Choe Hyunho" was held at the Nampo Shipyard with North Korean State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jongun in attendance. Chairman Kim and his daughter Ju Ae, who boarded the ship, were seen walking around the facility arm in arm. Photo by Yonhap News
According to Yonhap News, the NYT noted that since Chairman Kim introduced Kim Ju Ae to the world by appearing hand in hand with her in front of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) in November 2022, she has become increasingly prominent in North Korea's state media. The NYT reported, "She holds no known official title in North Korea. The outside world has never heard her voice. North Korean state media does not mention her name, referring to her only as the 'most beloved' or 'respected' daughter of the leader." The article continued, "The girl who once shyly stood beside her father has now rapidly risen to become a central public figure."
The NYT analyzed Kim Ju Ae's growing presence based on photos and videos released to the world over the past three years. In early photos featuring Kim Ju Ae, she was often positioned behind Chairman Kim or standing with her mother, Ri Solju. However, in September 2023, a photo was released for the first time showing her seated next to Chairman Kim, and instances of her appearing at the forefront have since increased. The NYT assessed, "This indicates that her status has been elevated, and such photos could not have been released without Chairman Kim’s approval."
Out of 39 events where Kim Ju Ae appeared, 24 were military-related. In October of last year, Korean Central TV aired footage of Chairman Kim welcoming the Russian ambassador with his daughter taking the lead, suggesting that her diplomatic role has expanded. The NYT reported, "Recent photos of Kim Ju Ae show that, at age 12, she has become central to the North Korean regime just three years after her first appearance on the world stage."
The NYT also highlighted that South Korea’s intelligence agencies believe Chairman Kim is likely to have more than one child and are closely monitoring Kim Ju Ae, considering her the most likely successor to Chairman Kim.
The NYT interpreted, "Cardiovascular disease, presumed to be hereditary, is threatening Chairman Kim," and that "the process of establishing Kim Ju Ae as successor is being accelerated." The article added, "Kim Ju Ae is the only child to have appeared in public," and noted, "If she is designated as successor, she would become the first woman to rule North Korea, a highly militarized, patriarchal, nuclear-armed state."
Chairman Kim tightly holding his daughter Juae's hand and walking together after visiting the Russian Embassy last May and seeing them off. Photo by Yonhap News
Previously, on August 3, Japan's Asahi Shimbun also published an article focusing on Kim Ju Ae's rising profile. At the time, the newspaper reported, "Chairman Kim's repeated public appearances with Kim Ju Ae are intended to solidify their positions as 'leader and successor,'" and that "every effort is being made to establish the presence of his daughter Kim Ju Ae as his successor."
According to Asahi Shimbun, North Korea’s succession process follows a series of steps. It begins with only the leader’s close aides knowing about the successor, and gradually the public is made aware of their existence. Even after officially starting activities in the Workers’ Party of Korea and the government, Kim Jongil was referred to as the 'Party Center,' and Chairman Kim as the 'Young General,' to enhance their mystique before making a formal appearance.
However, regarding the background for publicly revealing Kim Ju Ae’s existence and accelerating the succession process before she has assumed any official position, the analysis was that "Chairman Kim intends to prevent his daughter from experiencing the difficulties he faced during his own succession process."
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