North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is increasingly taking his daughter with him to attend important events. The first reported movement was the launch of a new type of intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) in November 2022, and the most recent was a visit to the Mars Artillery Force on March 9, 2023. This is the eighth time her daughter’s movements have been reported in state media.
As her daughter’s exposure increases, some people are paying attention to her as the successor to Kim Jong-un. However, the Korean government is cautious regarding this view at the moment. It is believed that she also has a first child who is her older brother, but there are reports that she has a weak constitution. The successor race is likely to remain chaotic.
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Kim Jong-un attended the groundbreaking ceremony held in Pyongyang with his daughter on February 25. At present, there are many cautious views on the succession theory (Photo from the Rodo Shimbun)
Kim Jong-un studied in Switzerland from the age of 9, and his eldest son is estimated to be in his teens and lives in Pyongyang?
North Korea’s state-run media wrote, “When General Secretary Kim Jong-un appears at the groundbreaking ceremony with his beloved daughter” (February 26), the North Korean side has not disclosed the daughter’s name. . However, the National Intelligence Service (NIS), which is the intelligence agency of South Korea, believes that it is “Kim Joo Ae”.
Kim Jong Un has at least three children, and Ju Ae is believed to be the second child. South Korea’s Unification Minister Kwon Yong-se answered the Diet on January 15,
“Kim Joo-ae has a son, and (Joo-ae’s) child has a child, but the gender is not certain.”
says. If that is the case, the question that arises is, “Why is the eldest son not appearing?”
One of the hypotheses is the “health anxiety” theory. On February 23, Chosun Ilbo-affiliated cable TV station “TV Chosun” reported that the eldest son was living in Pyongyang, citing government sources.
“Unlike Kim Joo Ae, Kim Jong Un’s son was reportedly smaller and frail.”
and South Korean authorities believed Kim Jong-un’s eldest son, who is presumed to be in his teens, was overseas, given that he studied abroad in Switzerland from the age of nine, according to TV Chosun. However, reports that he lives in Pyongyang are likely to reinforce his health concerns. The intelligence agency also said, “We are analyzing the related information, assuming that (my wife) Ri Sol-ju married another man before she married Chairman Kim.”
“I doubt women can lead a military-oriented regime in North Korea.”
At this point, the South Korean government is cautious regarding viewing Joo Ae as the successor.Unification Minister Kwon talked regarding Joo Ae in the “Kim Hyun Jung news show” broadcast on CBS radio on February 27.
“It’s too early to see him as a successor.”
“The North Korean regime has a far more patriarchal, male-centered social aspect than South Korea. I have my doubts.”
And so on. While ensuring the four-generation succession of “Kim Il-sung → Kim Jong-il → Kim Jong-un → his child”,
“Whether or not Kim Joo Ae is the fourth-generation successor is the right thing to do.”
I stopped at it.About the eldest son’s weak theory
“not confirmed”
and
The NIS has also revealed the existence of the eldest son. According to South Korean media, a member of the National Assembly is revealing to the press what NIS Director Kim Kyu-hyun reported to the National Assembly on March 7.
According to the report, while “there is no concrete evidence” that Kim Jong-un’s first child is a son, “foreign intelligence agencies have confirmed that it is a son. We are confirming this through information sharing.” Regarding the eldest son’s health problems, “it has never been confirmed by intelligence.” Regarding the third child, he explained, “We have confirmed the birth, but the gender has not been confirmed so far.”
About Mr. Jue
“I have never attended a formal education institution and am homeschooled in Pyongyang.”
On the other hand, the reason for the increased exposure of Jouee is that Kim Jong-un is generally considered to be in good health at the moment.
“There is no need to envision a successor at an early stage, and the main purpose is to impress (the fourth generation).”
I’m looking at it.
(Hiroshi Kudo, J-CAST News Editorial Department)
