North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s heir will most likely be his second daughter, Kim Ju Ae. According to information revealed by South Korea’s spy agency, the dictator’s second daughter will most likely be the one to take the reins of the Asian country. Kim Ju Ae would have been about ten years old. The news comes at a particularly sensitive time. On January 5, North Korea fired approximately 200 artillery shells off its west coast. The danger was so great that South Korea ordered the evacuation of civilians on Yeonpyeong and Baengnyeong islands, Seoul’s Ministry of Defense reported. Already on December 31, Kim Jong Un announced his intention to launch three new spy satellites in 2024, revealing the need to prepare North Korea for a new conflict on the Korean peninsula. “It is a possibility that could break out at any time due to the reckless moves of the enemies to invade us,” Kim said in his year-end speech. This possibility became even more concrete with the attack launched by North Korea on the border, which could pave the way for a new conflict, this time in Asia.
Participating in military activities
South Korean intelligence (NIS) considers Kim Ju Ae the “most likely” successor to his father, but does not rule out other possibilities in Pyongyang’s plans. The little girl accompanied her parents to missile tests and military parades and has maintained a high profile since her first public appearance in late 2022. NIS said in a statement: “He currently appears to be the most likely successor, but we are keeping our eyes open to all possibilities because Kim Jong Un is still young, has no significant health problems, and we have numerous variants.” A very young Kim accompanied his father to the launch ceremony of the Hwasong-18 solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) in December. It is the most advanced long-range missile in North Korea’s arsenal. He was also with his father when the Malligyong-1 spy satellite was launched into orbit last November after two unsuccessful attempts. According to Pyongyang, the satellite would offer Kim a view of the White House. The analysis published by South Korean intelligence coincides with the view expressed by South Korean Unification Minister Kim Yung-ho at a press conference last month. “The continued emphasis on Kim Jong Un’s daughter can be seen as evidence that North Korea is rushing to demonstrate its succession intentions under difficult domestic conditions,” the minister said.
“Respected” girl
Another indicator of possible inheritance can be found in words. According to observers in the region, little Kim is described as a “respected” rather than a “loved” girl. The title “respected” is reserved for North Korea’s most valuable people. Similarly, his father, Kim Jong Un, was called a “respected comrade” only after his status as the country’s future leader was solidified. The Kim family tells North Korean citizens that they are of sacred lineage. This means that they are the only ones authorized to rule the country. If Kim Ju Ae truly becomes the future leader of the country, she will be the fourth generation of the family to come to power. International observers believe introducing little Kim to the public so early could be a way for the North Korean leader to ensure his daughter builds relationships with citizens long before he comes to power. Another reason may be a desire to overcome prejudices about a deeply patriarchal North Korea, where a woman has never been in the leadership of the country.
Islands in the Yellow Sea are under attack
The issue of inheritance coincides, although not immediately, with the escalation of the conflict between the two Koreas in the first days of January. “The North Korean army carried out more than 200 attacks in the Jangsan-got areas of northern Baengnyeong Island and northern Yeonpyeong Island between 9 and 11 am today,” a South Korean official said at a press conference. Local authorities on Yeonpyeong Island said civilians were ordered to evacuate as a “preventive measure.” The South Korean island is located in the Yellow Sea, approximately 80 km west of Incheon and 12 km south of the coast of North Korea’s Hwanghae province. The incident is reminiscent of a 2010 incident when Pyongyang fired 170 artillery shells into Yeonpyeong, killing four people, including two civilians. This was North Korea’s first attack on civilians since the Korean War (1950-1953). North Korea’s artillery fire near two border islands was described by Seoul as a “provocative action”. South Korea urged Pyongyang to stop and in response launched a missile towards the border. The artillery exchange between the two countries is the first since last November, when they withdrew from a 2018 agreement to prevent military incidents.
Mysteries about family
Kim Jong Un is extremely secretive about his family. His wife, Ri Sol Ju, for example, was kept secret until some time after the wedding. Kim Ju Ae’s existence was first mentioned in 2013, following retired US basketball star Dennis Rodman’s controversial trip to North Korea. The former actor reported that Mr. Kim spent time with his family, relaxing by the sea and “holding his little girls.” The North Korean dictator is believed to have two more children: the first is a boy born in 2010, and the third is a minor born in 2017, whose gender is unknown.
Source: Today IT
Karen Clayton is a seasoned journalist and author at The Nation Update, with a focus on world news and current events. She has a background in international relations, which gives her a deep understanding of the political, economic and social factors that shape the global landscape. She writes about a wide range of topics, including conflicts, political upheavals, and economic trends, as well as humanitarian crisis and human rights issues.
