KCNA
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, his wife, Ri Sol-ju, and their daughter, Kim Ju-ae (center), visit the Kumsusan Sun Palace to celebrate the New Year.
Kim Jong-un’s daughter attended a family visit to North Korea’s state mausoleum, fueling speculation that she will succeed Kim Jong-un as the country’s next leader. Kim Ju-ae has been appearing increasingly prominently in state media over the past three years.
North Korean leader’s daughter Kim Jong-unwho is being prepared to succeed him, accompanied his parents on their first public visit to the mausoleu at Kumsusan to pay tribute to former leaders, at a time before an event where their succession could be formalized.
Photographs released by state news agency KCNA showed Kim Jong-un accompanied by his wife, Ri Sol-jun-juand senior officials during the traditional visit on January 1st, with Kim Ju Ju-yes positioned between her parents in the main hall of the Kumsusan Sun Palace.
North Korean leader visits Kumsusan to pay tribute to his grandfather, Kim Il-sungfounder of the State, and the father, Kim Jong Ilon important dates and anniversaries.
Kim Ju-ae try to do it increasingly prominent presence in the official media over the past three years, fueling speculation among analysts and the South Korean intelligence agency that it is being poised to become the fourth generation of country’s dictatorssays .
Cheong Seong-changvice-president do think tank South Korean Sejong Institute, considers that Ju-ae’s first public visit to Kumsusan Palace was a father’s calculated moveanticipating the next congress of the party in power, where its succession may be made official.
Second Hong Minan expert on North Korean affairs at the Korean Institute for National Unification, a state body, North Korea has sought project Kim’s image of a “stable family”when presenting his wife and daughter by his side at major events.
However, the potential role of Kim’s other children leaves room for caution regarding conclusions about Ju-ae’s succession, warns Hong.
“It is practically impossible to publicly name Kim Ju-aewhich is believed to have just turn 13 years oldas successor, as she is not even old enough to join the Workers’ Party”, explains Hong.
According to other versions, Ju-ae will have between 15 and 16 years old. North Korea has never officially confirmed his age.
Kim Ju-ae, who is believed to have been born in the early 2010s, has been present at this year’s New Year celebrationsaccording to official media. In September, he accompanied his father on a trip to Beijing, which was his first public trip abroad.
Just before Christmas, Kim Jong-un inaugurated the luxury tourist complex Samjiyon with the daughter. The images released show the North Korean leader with Ju-ae, visiting hotels and.
