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 his wife Ri Sol Ju, a boy born in 2010 and two girls born in 2013 and 2017. according to South Korean media reports.
The middle daughter, Kim Ju Ae, appeared in official photos with her father during two recent public events, fueling speculation that he is considering her as his heir apparent.
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 before the country’s intercontinental ballistic missile launch.
This undated photo provided on November 27, 2022 by the North Korean government shows North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, center right, with his daughter, center left, pose with scientists and workers for a photo, after the launch of what what does it say. 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 November 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 those involved in the recent release of what a Hwasong says. -17 intercontinental ballistic missile, at an unidentified location in North Korea.
(Korea Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP)
NORTH KOREA PRESENTS KIM JONG UN’S DAUGHTER AT MISSILE LAUNCH SITE
On Sunday, the country’s official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) published photos of her again, this time describing her as Kim’s “dearest” or “precious” child, a more honorary title than that of “beloved daughter”, which the KCNA used to describe. her just days earlier, the Associated Press reported.
NORTH KOREA TEST LAUNCHES BALLISTIC MISSILE CAPABLE OF ATTACKING ANYWHERE IN THE US
“This is certainly surprising. The photograph of Kim Ju Ae standing with her father as technicians and scientists involved in the latest ICBM launch celebrate her would support the idea that this is the beginning of her position as a possible successor.” , Ankit Panda. , an expert from the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace told the outlet.
This photo provided on November 19, 2022 by the North Korean government shows North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, right, and his daughter inspecting a missile at the Pyongyang International Airport in Pyongyang, North Korea, Friday, the 18th. November 2022.
((Korea Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP))
This photo provided on November 19, 2022 by the North Korean government shows North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, right, and his daughter inspecting a missile launch site at the Pyongyang International Airport in Pyongyang, South Korea. North, on Friday, November 18. , 2022.
((Korea Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP))
“I think the state media highlighting her father’s love for her further underlines this. Finally, her initial two public appearances have been in the context of strategic nuclear weapons, the crown jewels of North Korea’s national defense capabilities. That does not surprise me. like a coincidence,” said Panda.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
State media said on Sunday that Kim and his daughter took group photos with scientists, officials and others involved in what they called the test firing of their Hwasong-17 intercontinental ballistic missile.
KCNA did not name Kim’s daughter, but retired NBA star Dennis Rodman revealed during a 2013 interview with The Guardian that he had held Kim’s infant daughter, named Ju Ae, during their trip to the capital city. from Pyongyang.
