North Korea’s ‘Beloved Child’: Congress Hints at Kim Jong-un’s Succession
Recent observations from North Korea’s Workers’ Party congress have fueled speculation about the nation’s future leadership, with many analysts believing Kim Jong-un is grooming his young daughter, Kim Ju-ae, as his successor. This potential transition, however, is met with divided opinions, as deeply ingrained patriarchal norms within North Korean society could pose significant obstacles to a female leader.
The congress, a quinquennial event, showcased predictable boasts of nuclear advancement and a surprising overture from Kim Jong-un suggesting a potential thaw in relations with the United States, contingent on Washington recognizing North Korea as a nuclear power. Yet, for keen observers of the reclusive state, the gathering offered a rare glimpse into the dynastic succession plans of the Kim family, which has ruled North Korea with an authoritarian grip since its 1948 founding.
The prevailing sentiment among many North Korea watchers is that Kim Jong-un has already designated his daughter, Kim Ju-ae, to become the fourth-generation leader. This belief is partly attributed to her increasing public profile and proximity to her father, even extending to details like her wardrobe. Her appearances alongside Kim Jong-un at numerous official functions, including a significant visit to the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun, a sacred mausoleum for the Kim dynasty, have been interpreted as strong indicators of her designated heir status.
However, a segment of experts expresses skepticism, arguing that North Korea’s entrenched gender politics could derail Kim Ju-ae’s ascent. Mitch Shin, a correspondent for The Diplomat, points to the country’s “deeply ingrained patriarchal nature,” describing it as functioning more akin to a Neo-Confucian monarchy than a socialist state. Shin suggests that older military generals, many in their sixties and seventies, may find it culturally incongruous to pledge absolute loyalty to a young woman, viewing it as a fundamental disruption to the regime’s internal logic. These dissenting voices propose that Kim may be using his daughter as a temporary “human shield” to protect an as-yet-unrevealed actual successor, possibly an older son, from international scrutiny.
Conversely, other experts contend that the sacred “Mount Paektu bloodline,” a lineage conferring legitimacy upon the Kim dynasty, will supersede societal patriarchy. Shreyas Reddy of NK News characterizes Kim Ju-ae’s heightened visibility as more performative than political, suggesting state media’s emphasis on Kim Jong-un as a loving father figure to the nation is being mirrored by his portrayal of affection for his daughter. Reddy advises caution, recommending observation rather than premature declarations about North Korea’s next leader.
Adding complexity to the succession narrative, South Korea’s national intelligence service recently claimed Kim Jong-un was nearing the designation of Kim Ju-ae as his successor. However, Leif-Eric Easley, a professor at Ewha University in Seoul, suggests that Kim Ju-ae’s primary role at present is that of a daughter, potentially too young to hold an official party title. Furthermore, reports from 2023 indicated that Kim Jong-un and his wife likely have an older son and a younger third child, whose gender remains unconfirmed. Lee Sung-yoon, a principal fellow at the Sejong Institute, notes that Kim Jong-un has not officially disclosed having a son to foreign interlocutors, and past claims were based on “flimsy intelligence reports.”
Kim Ju-ae’s public debut at a long-range missile test in November 2022 marked the beginning of her increased involvement in state activities, which have included weapons demonstrations, military parades, factory inaugurations, and even diplomatic travel, such as a summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. While the recent congress concluded without official confirmation of her role, she was notably present alongside her father at a subsequent military parade. Their matching leather coats during the event, noted by analyst Lim Eul-chul, were seen as carrying significant political symbolism, aligning with the leader’s image as the guarantor of national security and prosperity.
– Elena RogerRT (Roder.E@theseouljournal.com)
