SEOUL, South Korea – North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's young daughter is seen as her father's presumptive successor, South Korea's intelligence agency released its first assessment Thursday. Preteen unveiled It was a little over a year ago that I went out into the outside world.
was there Intense discussion outside the company Speculation has also been rife about the girl, who is about 10 years old and reportedly named Jue, since she made her first public appearance in November 2022, watching a long-range missile test launch with her father. .
Since then, the girl has accompanied her father to a number of major public events, with state media calling her Kim Jong Un's “most beloved” or “respected” child, and footage and I'm posting lots of photos. evidence of her rising political status and closeness with his father.
As she applauded, a senior general knelt down and whispered to her: watching a military parade At the VIP observation deck in September. During her visit to Air Force headquarters in November, at one point she was photographed standing in front of her father, with the Kims wearing sunglasses and long leather jackets.
At a New Year's Eve celebration at a packed Pyongyang Stadium on Sunday, Kim Jong Un kissed her on the cheek and she did the same for her father.
Most of these scenes were unimaginable in North Korea, where Mr. Kim is subject to a powerful and loyal following that treats him like a god.
South Korea's main spy agency, the National Intelligence Service, on Thursday cited a comprehensive analysis of Kim Joo-ae's public activities and state protocol accorded to her, suggesting that Kim Joo-ae could be her father's successor. He announced that he is considered to have a high sexual orientation.
The National Intelligence Service's public information office told The Associated Press that it is considering all possibilities for North Korea's power succession process because Kim is young, has no major health problems and has at least one other child. he said. Kim turns 40 on Monday.
Earlier on Thursday, Rep. Yoon Gun-young said Cho Tae-young, a candidate for the post of director of the National Intelligence Service, had given him such an evaluation. Yoon, of the National Assembly Intelligence Committee, said in a phone call with The Associated Press that Cho's written answers to questions did not include any other details about Kim Jue.
The National Intelligence Service has a spotty record in confirming the progress of cases. north korea, one of the most secretive countries in the world. North Korean state media has yet to comment directly on Kim Jue's succession plans, including whether he has any siblings.
Doo Hyun Cha, an analyst at Seoul's Asan Institute for Policy Studies, said the National Intelligence Service now believes that Kim Jue is likely to be ready to succeed her father. He said few could predict whether she would ultimately become North Korea's next leader.
Cha added that Kim Jue lacks the essential political achievements to be formally appointed as the country's future leader.
Chung Sung-chan, an analyst at South Korea's private Sejong Research Institute, said Kim Jong-un likely believes his daughter has the ability and determination to succeed him as leader. He said that Kim Jong Un's obesity appears to be serious and that “it wouldn't be surprising if he collapsed tomorrow.''
“By accompanying her father to big events, she seems to be learning about royal power and building connections from an early age,” Chong said.
Officials from NIS and other departments of the Korean government I said earlier that it was too early. Given Kim Jong-un's relatively young age and North Korea's Confucian-influenced, male-appointed power structure, many see Kim Jue as his father's successor.they said this The repeated appearance of a girl It was likely intended to shore up public support for Kim's family and his plans to one day pass power to one of his children.
North Korea has been ruled by members of the Kim family for generations since its founding in 1948. Kim Jong-un inherited power upon the death of his father, Kim Jong-il, in late 2011. Kim Jong Il took over power after his father and state founder Kim Il Sung died in 1994.
Jue's name matched the name retired NBA star Dennis Rodman called Kim's baby daughter. Travel to Pyongyang The National Intelligence Service told lawmakers at a private conference last year that Kim Jue has an older brother and a younger brother, but authorities have not disclosed their gender.
According to some lawmakers who attended the briefing, the NIS said at the time that Kim Jue had never been enrolled in a public educational institution and was home-schooled in Pyongyang.
Jeong, an analyst at the Sejong Research Institute, agreed that Kim Joo-ae has a younger brother, but said the National Intelligence Service's information about her brother is inaccurate.
The revelation of the young Kim Ju Ae came as a big surprise to foreign experts, as neither Kim Jong Un nor Kim Jong Il were mentioned in North Korea's state media before they became adults.
