Is Kim Ju-ae being groomed for a support role?
Kim Ju‑ae, daughter of North Korean leader Kim Jong‑un, aiming a sniper rifle on Feb 27 (Image: KCNA)
One question that keeps surfacing in the news these days is whether Kim Ju-ae will be anointed the official successor to her father, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.
Analysts offer many interpretations. Yet, from the perspective of someone who lived in North Korea, these debates can sometimes feel very remote.
When I was there, I had no access to detailed information about the inner workings of power. But I did experience firsthand how society functions and how people perceive the leader’s family. That is why I have my own thoughts when I follow today’s debate.
Personally, I think it is quite possible that Kim Ju-ae is being groomed as a successor. Her repeated appearances at official events over the past few years are unusual to say the least.
I say that because the public exposure of a leader’s child is carefully managed. Bringing a young daughter to a military event or a state ceremony carries a message, even if we don’t know what it is exactly.
In my day, the leader’s family was a mystery. No photos or names were revealed. Against that backdrop, there is no question that Kim Ju-ae’s appearances are deliberate.
Another reason I think this way relates to Kim Jong-un’s own path to power. He inherited leadership suddenly after his father Kim Jong-il’s death. He had had no preparation.
That was evident in the early years of his rule when rapid reshuffling of power created tension and upheaval. The 2013 execution of his own uncle, Jang Song-thaek, a central figure in the party and state, was a prime example of this restructuring.
I believe Kim himself must have felt great pressure and confusion from the lack of a proper succession process. If so, he may want to spare his child from the same experience. Hence the decision to expose her early to political settings and let her absorb the atmosphere of power naturally.
But then another intriguing possibility comes to mind. Consider for a moment if the rumors Kim has a son are true. Why, then, would he be putting his daughter forward now? A clue lies in the nature of the current power structure.
Although the system appears to concentrate all authority in one leader, family roles and divisions of responsibility are also crucial. Kim’s sister Yo-jong is a clear example. She is not the supreme leader, and yet she wields significant political influence.
This makes me wonder if, assuming a son exists, Kim Ju-ae is being introduced first to gain political experience, with a view to her serving later to support a brother, much as Kim Yo-jong supports Kim Jong-un.
Of course, this is only my personal view. North Korea is so opaque that few can speak with certainty.
That all said, my heart shifts when I see how much attention South Korea devotes to analyzing all this. It is important, yes. But not for North Koreans. Their biggest worries are not about who will inherit power, but about survival. How to endure the winter? How to find food? How to protect my family?
More than who the successor will be is whether that person will make their lives a little more bearable. I hope that one day, people will talk not about their leader’s name, but about their own lives. When that day comes, today’s endless debates over succession will remain as a blip in history.
Kim Yumi, a North Korean defector, was born and raised in Haeju, South Hwanghae Province, a coastal military area. Growing up near a naval base, she was able to secretly watch South Korean news programs and TV shows, thereby uncovering the vibrant, democratic society of South Korea. Yumi and her husband made the brave decision to escape North Korea and seek a better future. Now in Seoul, she is actively involved in raising awareness about the realities of life in North Korea, especially on her YouTube channel, “@KimYumiTV.”
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