Politics

Frequent appearances of Kim’s daughter: ‘A bid to elicit military loyalty’

Seoul, Sep 5 (EFE).- Kim Jong-un’s daughter has frequently accompanied her father to North Korean military events, which the South interprets as the dictator’s attempt to garner loyalty from the armed forces.

In an analysis published on Tuesday, South Korea’s Unification Ministry said Kim’s daughter. Kim Ju-ae, has appeared in public on 15 occasions since November of last year, when she was first seen with her father.

According to the South Korean ministry, based on reports from the North’s Rodong Sinmun newspaper, 12 of all public appearances, or 80 percent, have been at military-related events.

Her first appearance in the media with her father was on November 18, 2022, during the test launch of a Hwasong-17 intercontinental ballistic missile.

In March, she attended the banquet celebrating the 75th anniversary of the founding of the North Korean army and witnessed a military parade.

In April, she visited the headquarters of the National Aerospace Development Administration (NADA) for a spy satellite launch and also witnessed the firing of the Hwasong-18, North Korea’s first solid-fuel ICBM.

In contrast, the girl has attended non-military events only three times.

In February, she was present at the inauguration of some public works in Pyongyang and also witnessed a soccer match in the same month to celebrate the birth anniversary of her grandfather Kim Jong-Il.

North Korean media have published 107 photos of the 11-year-old, with seven of them appearing on the cover of the Rodong newspaper. Approximately 75 percent, or around 80 pictures, showed her standing alongside her father.

The Unification Ministry pointed out that this pattern suggests that Pyongyang is linking her with her father’s personality and the North’s military.

The North Korean military has made significant advancements in the defense sector by testing modern weaponry, following the approval of its modernization plan in 2021.

Despite her frequent public appearances, many analysts in South Korea believe that it’s unlikely for the girl to become Kim’s successor, considering the strongly patriarchal nature of North Korean society and rumors that Kim’s firstborn is a son.

South Korea’s spy chief, Kim Kyou-hyun, informed lawmakers on Monday that it would be a “hasty” conclusion to assume that Ju-ae will be the next supreme leader. EFE

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