“Beloved” and “respected”
At the recent military events, North Korean media described Ju Ae as Kim’s “respected” and “beloved” child. This is not the first time the girl has taken the spotlight. In November 2022, state media released pictures of Ju Ae and Kim inspecting a North Korean ballistic missile prior to a test launch. North Korean state media also published a story later that month with pictures of Kim and his daughter, referring to her as his “most beloved” child.
Speculation about Ju Ae being Kim’s successor began last November and has been fueled by her recent appearance at military events. According to Cheong Seong-chang, a senior analyst at the Sejong Institute in South Korea, there is historical precedent for Kim to identify his successor early on, as his father, Kim Jong Il, did with him. If Ju Ae is to succeed her father, she will need the support of the military, and appearing at military events from a young age will help her establish credibility with the military over time, Cheong said. The state-run Rodong Sinmun newspaper refers to Ju Ae with adjectives such as “beloved” and “respected,” suggesting that she has a special status and may be being primed as the designated successor.
