Cheong says her TV appearances – the place she is positioned within the centre of the body and the state media’s description of her as “the respected child” – are the clearest signal that she has become the official inheritor.
“The state media is using words reserved for the supreme leader. It underlines her own cult of personality.”
Her proximity to the nation’s army is one other signal, Cheong provides.
She inspected troops and weapons alongside her father. Several instances, the highest generals have been seen kneeling beside her to whisper in her ear as she sat along with her father watching army parades.
Kim Jong Un’s energy rests in his management of the army, Cheong explains. If Ju Ae have been to succeed him, she would wish to seem as a reputable army commander.
When inspecting troops along with her father, she dons the identical lengthy black leather-based coat and darkish sun shades that he wears.
When Kim Jong Un inherited energy, it occurred somewhat immediately. He solely appeared publicly a yr earlier than his father’s passing.
Cheong believes Kim is attempting to keep away from such a speedy transition by introducing Ju Ae early to the regime and the general public.
There is not any proof that Kim Jong Un is affected by unwell well being, other than references to his weight, smoking and ingesting habits.
But Kim is likely to be attempting to nominate his inheritor early to keep away from a succession disaster, in line with Cheong.
However, former North Korean official Ryu Hyun-woo sees little chance of a lady ruling over the nation.
Ryu, who served as a diplomat earlier than defecting in 2019, says the North Korean authorized code, created by the Kim household, requires the nation to be run by an individual of the Paektu bloodline – in different phrases, a direct descendant of the nation’s founder Kim Il Sung.
Although Ju Ae is of the bloodline, North Korea’s patriarchal system wouldn’t see her as being of the bloodline, Ryu says.
