"He Likely Felt a Sense of Crisis—He Might Die"... Why Kim Jong Un Is Rushing to Name His 13-Year-Old Daughter Successor

Lee Young-jong, Head of North Korea Research Center, speaks on YouTube
"13-year-old daughter's protocol at state events goes far beyond a father's pride"
"Likely determined to provide successor training as soon as possible"

It has been analyzed that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's rush to groom his 13-year-old daughter Kim Ju-ae as his successor is rooted in his own sense of crisis, stemming from having inherited power without completing proper successor training himself.

Last month, Chairman Kim, along with his daughter Ju-ae and wife Ri Sol-ju, attended a sports and cultural event held together with the '81st Anniversary National Art Troupe Performance Celebrating the Liberation of the Nation.' Photo by Yonhap News Agency

Lee Young-jong, Director of the North Korea Research Center at the Korea National Strategy Institute, relayed the National Intelligence Service's (NIS) analysis on the YouTube channel 'DdomeogyeojuneunTV' on September 14, stating, "Kim Jong Un inherited power at age 27 without having completed proper successor training, because his father Kim Jong Il did not hurry the succession process. As a result, Kim Jong Un may have decided, 'If I've made up my mind to pass on leadership as a hereditary matter to my children, I should make sure to provide them with proper training as soon as possible so they do not have to suffer the same painful experience.' This, according to the NIS, is his resolution."

"A Sense of Crisis, Even Fear of Death... The Reason for Raising Protocol Status at 13"

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Photo by Yonhap News

Kim Jong Un became the official successor in September 2010 when he was appointed Vice Chairman of the Party Central Military Commission, and inherited power a little over a year later following the death of Kim Jong Il, Chairman of the National Defense Commission. He subsequently engaged in extensive purges, including the execution of his uncle, Jang Song-thaek. Director Lee remarked that during this period, "He must have felt a crisis or stress, perhaps even the fear that he might be killed."

He added, "Kim Il Sung designated his son Kim Jong Il as successor in 1974 and provided him with succession tutoring for as long as 20 years until his own death in 1994. Elevating a 13-year-old girl (Kim Ju-ae) to national-level protocol at official events goes well beyond a doting father's display of affection for his daughter."

Director Lee also mentioned North Korea's overseas luxury goods procurement network, saying, "Luxury bags used by Kim Yo-jong and a wristwatch worth 30 million won worn by Kim Ju-ae were brought in through diplomatic pouches and similar channels." Kim Ju-ae was seen wearing a watch worth about 30 million won during her visit to Sinuiju Comprehensive Greenhouse Farm in May, and in 2022, she was spotted wearing a Dior coat valued at approximately 3.7 million won.

"Kim Ju-ae, Currently Tapped as Successor... Possible Power Struggle with Kim Yo-jong"

Until now, intelligence agencies in South Korea and the United States assessed that one of the three children of Kim Jong Un and Ri Sol-ju was a son; however, the assessment regarding whether a son actually exists has reportedly changed. Director Lee explained, "According to internal sources within the NIS, there is no son. The issue arose from mistakenly identifying gifts purchased for Kim Jong Un and Ri Sol-ju's baby as being for a son."

Earlier, on September 9, the NIS announced, "Kim Ju-ae is currently viewed as designated in the successor stage, and there is believed to be a younger sibling of unspecified gender. As for the possible existence of an older brother of Kim Ju-ae, the matter is still being checked, but our stance is that even if there is a brother, he is not in a position to become the successor."

Attention is now turning to the position of Kim Yo-jong, Vice Department Director of the Workers' Party of Korea. Director Lee predicted, "If Kim Jong Un is incapacitated before Kim Ju-ae is able to consolidate her status as successor, Kim Yo-jong—who commands significant influence—will inherit power, and it will be difficult for Ri Sol-ju to act as regent through Kim Ju-ae."

Conversely, if the hereditary succession is successful, "Kim Yo-jong's range of action will become more limited." Director Lee asserted, "If Kim Yo-jong intervenes in the process or tries to seize the throne from the daughter, it could trigger a power struggle reminiscent of how Grand Prince Suyang drove out his nephew, King Danjong."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.