Reports Emerge That Kim Jong Un's Teen Daughter is Next in Line for Dictatorship
Who is next in line to replace North Korean leader Kim Jong Un? According to South Korean lawmakers, the dictator's teenage daughter may be appointed to take over the communist nation. Read on for all of the details.
Kim Jong Un's Daughter Rumored to be Top Choice to Take Over North Korea
Reports are emerging that Kim Ju Ae may succeed her father as the leader of North Korea. South Korea's National Intelligence Agency (NIS) is reporting that the communist ruler is actively working to secure his daughter's role as his successor. Should this happen, she would be the nation's fourth-generation leader. Reuters is also reporting that Kim Ju Ae is already providing input on national policy matters to her father.
It is difficult to get concrete details about North Korea due to its media blackout and closed borders. It has been reported that Kim Ju Ae is in her early teens. The young girl has been spotted making many high-profile appearances over the last few years, marking a signifcant shift for the normally private family. North Korean state media first published images of the teen in November of 2022.
The increasing number of images shared with the public is also signaling that she is the next heir to the regime. It should be noted that this role is usually reserved for a male heir. While most experts believe that Kim Jong Un has three total children, the genders of the other two children have never been confirmed.
North Korean state media recently released images of the girl inspecting a weapons project alongside her father. These images have served to fuel the speculation that he is grooming her to take over the leadership role when he steps down.
This is not the first time that the NIS has signaled that they believe that Kim Ju Ae is next in line to replace her father. In the past, the agency said that she was simply "in study as successor." The latest report took that assertion one step further, noting that Kim Ju Ae "was in the stage of being internally appointed successor." South Korean lawmaker Lee Seong-kweun confirmed this belief to the media following a private briefing from the NIS.
While South Korean intelligence is growing more certain that Kim Ju Ae will eventually succeed her father, the timeline for when this would happen is still unclear. Kim Jong Un is only 42 years old, meaning that it could be a long time before a successor is needed.
South Korea lawmaker Park Sun-won said that the NIS believes that Kim Ju Ae is already being treated as the second-highest leader in North Korea. This belief is rooted in the fact that the teen girl has taken on a greater role during public events while also providing policy input to the government.
In recent years, there has also been speculation that Kim Jong Un's younger sister, Kim Yo Jong, could take over the dictatorship. She is currently the only woman serving on what is known as the State Affairs Commission in North Korea, the agency in charge of making policy.
The South Korean National Intelligence Service said in 2020 that Kim Yo Jong was likely to be North Korea's de facto second in command. However, the recent appearances by Kim Ju Ae mean that the sister may be passed over for the role at the top of the family's hierarchy.
About Kim Jong Un and His Relationship with President Trump
Kim Jong Un first assumed power after his father, Kim Jong-il, died in December 2011. He is now the nation's third dictator.
U.S. President Donald Trump made news in 2019 when he personally met with Kim Jong Un during his first term in the Oval Office. It was a historic event, as Trump became the first American president to visit North Korea. Trump met with Kim Jong Un three times over the course of his first term.
The Trump administration has expressed that it is not against meeting with Kim Jong Un again. The White House continues to maintain that Trump and the dictator have a "good relationship."
However, North Korean leaders appear more hesitant to continue discussions with the U.S. Kim Jong Un recently said that he will negotiate any deals with the U.S. should the American government continue to make denuclearization on the peninsula a priority.
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