Kim Jong Un’s daughter makes second public appearance in days, sparking succession rumors

Kim Jong Un’s daughter made her second public appearance with her father in days, sparking speculation about the North Korean despot’s possible succession plans.

Kim, 38, was rumored to be in serious health after undergoing a cardiovascular procedure in 2020. He has three children with wife Ri Sol Ju, a boy who was born in 2010 and two girls who born in 2013 and 2017. , according to South Korean media reports.

The middle child, Kim Ju Ae, has appeared in official photographs with her father during two recent public events, fueling speculation that he views her as his heir.

Ju Ae, who is about 9 or 10 years old, was first photographed with her parents on November 19 and walking hand in hand with Kim ahead of the launch of the country’s intercontinental ballistic missile.

This undated photo provided on Nov. 27, 2022 by the North Korean government shows North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, center right, with his daughter, center left, posing with scientists and workers for a photo, after the launch of what he says. a Hwasong-17 intercontinental ballistic missile, at an unidentified location in North Korea.
(Korea Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP)

This undated photo provided on Nov. 27, 2022 by the North Korean government shows North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, left, and his daughter, right, walking toward a photo session with the involved in the recent release of what is said to be a Hwasong. -17 intercontinental ballistic missiles, at an unidentified location in North Korea.
(Korea Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP)

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On Sunday, the country’s official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) again released images of her, this time describing her as Kim’s “dearest” or “precious” child, a more honorific title than ” beloved daughter,” which KCNA used to describe. her just a few days earlier, the Associated Press reported.

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“This is certainly surprising. The photograph of Kim Ju Ae next to her father as she is celebrated by technicians and scientists involved in the latest ICBM launch would support the idea that this is the beginning of her positioning as potential successor,” Ankit Panda. , an expert at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, told the outlet.

This Nov. 19, 2022 photo provided by the North Korean government shows North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, right, and his daughter inspecting a missile at Pyongyang International Airport in Pyongyang, North Korea, on Friday, November 18, 2022.
((Korea Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP))

This Nov. 19, 2022 photo provided by the North Korean government shows North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, right, and his daughter inspecting the site of a missile launch at Pyongyang International Airport in Pyongyang, North Korea, Friday, November 18. , 2022.
((Korea Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP))

“The state media emphasizing her father’s love for her further underscores it, I think. Finally, her two initial public appearances have been in the context of strategic nuclear weapons—the crown jewels of defense capabilities national of North Korea. That doesn’t strike me. as a coincidence,” Panda said.

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State media said Kim and his daughter on Sunday took group photos with scientists, officials and others involved in what it called the test launch of its Hwasong-17 ICBM.

KCNA did not name Kim’s daughter, but retired NBA star Dennis Rodman revealed during a 2013 interview with The Guardian that he had picked up Kim’s daughter named Ju Ae during his trip to the capital Pyongyang.