Kim Ju Ae: North Korea leader Kim Jong Un chooses daughter as heir, Seoul says
www.bbc.com
South Korea's spy agency says Ki Ju Ae's prominent public presence indicates she is the chosen heir.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has selected his daughter as his heir, South Korea’s spy agency told lawmakers on Thursday.

Kim Ju Ae - who is believed to be 13 - has in recent months been pictured beside her father in high-profile events like a visit to Beijing in September, her first known trip abroad.

The National Intelligence Service (NIS) said it took a “range of circumstances” into account including her increasingly prominent public presence at official events" in making this assessment.

  • red_green_black@slrpnk.netEnglish
    91·
    13 hours ago

    Yes but it’s not “dude is going to croak any day now.”

    Even more so as his status and position gives him access to the best medical care

    • Ugandan Airways@lemmy.zipEnglish
      111·
      13 hours ago

      I don’t know. Heart attacks are a real thing. Your 40s get weird with health stuff. I agree that I don’t think he is going to croak any day now, but it does seem like they are preparing for him to be gone. His father only lived to 60.

      • red_green_black@slrpnk.netEnglish
        3·
        13 hours ago

        I don’t dispute in having a successor prepared for when the time comes. It’s just that for a monarchy it’s good policy to have an heir ready in the wings, otherwise you get a lovely power struggle.

        In this case it would be between factions of the ruling elite that are die hard cultists and factions that didn’t drink the kool-aid and just want to stay in power.

        Normally a population opposition would also be in the mix but unlike Venezuela and Iran NK seems to have taken care of that