Kim Ju-ae

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In this Korean name, the family name is Kim.

Respected Daughter
Kim Ju-ae
Bornc. 2012 or 2013 (age 11–12)
Parents
RelativesKim family
Korean name
Chosŏn'gŭl
김주애
Revised RomanizationGim Juae
McCune–ReischauerKim Chuae
IPA[kim.t̟͡ɕuɛ̝]

Kim Ju-ae[a] (Korean: 김주애; born c. 2012 or 2013) is a daughter of North Korean supreme leader Kim Jong Un and his wife Ri Sol-ju. The North Korean government has disclosed little information about her and much is unknown about her, including her birth date and name. The name "Ju-ae" was first mentioned by American basketball player Dennis Rodman after his visit to North Korea in 2012, but it has not been verified by either the North Korean government or South Korean intelligence. North Korean defectors interviewed by South Korean intelligence have claimed two alternate names for her: Un-ju (은주) and Ju-ye (주예).

She made her first public appearance alongside her father at a missile launch in 2022. State media initially referred to her as Kim Jong Un's "beloved" and "precious" daughter before adopting the adjective "respected", which is typically reserved for the most honoured members of North Korean society, such as Kim Jong Un himself. Since her public debut, North Korea analysts have speculated about the reason for her prominence in state media, with some hypothesising that she may be the heir to the position of supreme leader and others arguing against this idea.

Early reports and uncertainties

The North Korean government has not publicly disclosed Kim Ju-ae's birth date. Ri Sol-ju's lengthy absence from the public eye in 2012 was later attributed to her pregnancy with Kim Ju-ae.[1] South Korea's National Intelligence Service (NIS) estimated in 2023 that she was 10 or 11 years old.[2] South Korean lawmaker Kim Byung-kee, citing "non-NIS sources", claims that she was born in 2013.[3] His colleague Yi Wan-yong, citing both the NIS and non-NIS sources, claims that Kim Ju-ae has an older brother born in 2010 and a younger sibling of unknown sex born in 2017.[3] However, in a 2023 interview with Radio Free Asia, João Micaelo, a personal acquaintance of Kim Jong Un, expressed doubts that the North Korean leader had ever fathered a son. Micaelo claims to have first met Kim Jong Un in 1998 while attending school together in Switzerland. When they met again in their adulthood, Micaelo claims that Kim Jong Un never mentioned a son, only the daughter he had been appearing in public with.[4][5]

The North Korean government has also not publicly disclosed her name, and the NIS has not verified any claims on the matter from North Korean defectors.[6] North Korean media initially called her Kim Jong Un's "beloved" (사랑하는) or "precious" (존귀하신) daughter but soon began using the adjective "respected" (존경하는), which is typically reserved for the most honoured members of North Korean society.[7][8][9][10] For example, Kim Jong Un received the title of "respected comrade" shortly after becoming the country's supreme leader.[7]

The name "Ju-ae" was first mentioned by American basketball player Dennis Rodman during a 2013 account of a visit he made to the North Korean capital of Pyongyang the previous year. When discussing Kim Jong Un and Ri Sol-ju, Rodman described "[holding] their baby Ju-ae" and complimented Kim Jong Un as a "good dad" and an "awesome guy".[11][12] However, Choe Su-yong, a former NIS intelligence officer, claims that Rodman misunderstood the Korean words jeoae (저애), which mean "that girl", and that the child's actual name is Un-ju (은주). Choe cited his North Korean informants as his source.[6]

On 4 November 2022, The Chosun Ilbo reported claims from an unnamed defector, a former military officer who claims to have escorted Kim Jong Un's eldest son and middle daughter overseas. He claimed that the daughter's name is indeed "Ju-ae", and that her elder brother is named "Ju-un", with "Ju" taken from their mother's name and "Un" taken from their father's. He further claimed that the Hanja spelling of the daughter's name is "主愛".[13] Meanwhile, North Korean diplomat Ri Il-kyu, who defected to South Korea in 2023, claims that her name is Ju-ye (주예; 主叡) and that North Korean citizens named Ju-ye were ordered to change their names.[14]

Public appearances

External videos
video icon Kim Jong-un showcases missiles in military parade with daughter Kim Ju-ae at his side. The Telegraph (YouTube). 9 February 2023.
video icon N. Korea unveils stamp featuring leader's daughter Ju-ae for 1st time. Yonhap News Agency (YouTube). 14 February 2023.

Kim Ju-ae appeared in public for the first time at the test launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile on 18 November 2022.[2][15] The state-run Korean Central News Agency released photos of Kim Ju-ae and her father inspecting a Hwasong-17 missile together before its launch.[15] Her public debut came amid worsening inter-Korean relations due to a record number of North Korean missile launches.[16] Rachel Minyoung Lee, a senior analyst at the Open Nuclear Network in Vienna, Austria, suggests that the photos may have been intended to "bolster [Kim Jong Un's] image as the father of the people and the nation", and "highlight the necessity of nuclear weapons programmes for the security of future generations", with Ju-ae representing future generations.[16] Kim Ju-ae subsequently made four more public appearances from late November 2022 to early February 2023.[7] On 14 February 2023, the state-run Korea Stamp Corporation unveiled postage stamps featuring Kim Ju-ae and Kim Jong Un at the 18 November missile launch.[17]

Kim Ju-ae was present at a number of official ceremonies and processions in 2023. She participated in official festivities with her father during that year's celebration of the Day of the Shining Star, the birth anniversary of her grandfather Kim Jong Il, on 16 February.[18] She appeared with her father once again on 9 September, at a parade marking the 75th anniversary of the foundation of North Korea.[19] At the end of the year, she attended New Year's Eve celebrations with her father at the May Day Stadium in Pyongyang.[20]

Speculation about her future

Kim Ju-ae's public prominence has led to speculation by North Korea analysts about her future position in the country. Richard Lloyd Parry of The Times suggests that it may be a response to rivalries within the North Korean government and an attempt to reassert the political supremacy of the Kim family.[21] Go Myong-hyun, a senior fellow at the Asan Institute for Policy Studies in Seoul, likewise argues that Kim Ju-ae's public presentation is that of a princess and is an attempt by state media to normalise the Kim family's rule "by adopting the trappings of [a] European-style monarchy".[16] A number of other analysts have speculated that she has been chosen as her father's successor as supreme leader, which could make her the first woman to serve in the top position.[7][22][23][24] This hypothesis was echoed by the NIS at the start of 2024, after the agency made its annual assessment of North Korea.[20]

In a closed-door meeting on 29 July 2024, the NIS reported to members of South Korea's National Assembly that Kim Ju-ae was being trained to succeed her father as supreme leader.[25][26][27][28] Park Jie-won, who served as the NIS' director from 2020 to 2022, dismissed the report's findings, noting that possible successors had previously been kept hidden from the public eye. He further argued that the North Korean government has historically been patriarchal, making Kim Ju-ae's ascension unlikely.[29] Park's comments were echoed by a number of North Korea analysts who further posited that Kim Ju-ae, being a child, was politically unproven, and so the decision to make her Kim Jong Un's successor would have been premature.[8][29][30]

Notes

  1. ^ Also transliterated as Kim Ju Ae.

References

  1. ^ Mark, Michelle (16 December 2017). "What we know about Kim Jong Un's 3 possible heirs". Business Insider. Archived from the original on 16 December 2017. Retrieved 18 October 2024.
  2. ^ a b Palmer, Elizabeth (16 February 2023). "Why is North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's daughter suddenly front and center?". CBS News. Archived from the original on 16 February 2023. Retrieved 18 October 2024.
  3. ^ a b Lee, Taehoon; Griffiths, James (29 August 2017). "South Korea: Kim Jong Un's third child born in February". CNN. Archived from the original on 28 December 2017. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
  4. ^ Sharma, Shweta (26 May 2023). "Kim Jong-un's friend from school says North Korean leader doesn't have a son". The Independent. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
  5. ^ Park, Jae-woo (24 May 2023). 김정은 스위스 유학 절친 '아들 있단 얘기 못 들어' [Kim Jong-un's close friend studying abroad in Switzerland: 'I haven't heard that he has a son']. Radio Free Asia (in Korean). Washington D.C. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
  6. ^ a b Kang, Hyun-kyung (16 November 2023). "North Korean leader's daughter known by wrong name: expert". The Korea Times. Retrieved 18 October 2024.
  7. ^ a b c d Mackenzie, Jean (9 February 2023). "Succession questions raised by presence of Kim's daughter". BBC News. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
  8. ^ a b Isozaki, Atsuhito (18 September 2024). "South Korea's Changing Position on Kim Jong Un's Daughter". The Diplomat. Retrieved 21 October 2024.
  9. ^ Han, Do-hyeong (9 February 2023). 김주애 '존경하는 자제분' 표현, 김정은 인간미 강조 수준 넘어선 것 [Kim Ju-ae's expression of 'respected daughter' goes beyond emphasising Kim Jong Un's humanity]. Radio Free Asia (in Korean). Retrieved 26 October 2024.
  10. ^ "Kim Jong Un presenta a su hija y alimenta rumores sobre su sucesión" [Kim Jong Un introduces his daughter and feeds rumors about his succession]. La Vanguardia (in Spanish). Barcelona, Spain. 9 February 2023. Archived from the original on 10 February 2023.
  11. ^ Walker, Peter (9 September 2013). "Dennis Rodman gives away name of Kim Jong-un's daughter". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 9 September 2013. Retrieved 18 October 2024.
  12. ^ "North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's wife makes first appearance in a year". BBC News. 17 February 2021. Retrieved 6 August 2021.
  13. ^ Ahn, Yong-hyun (4 November 2022). '후사' 언급한 김정은, 4대 세습 시동 거나 [Kim Jong Un mentions 'successor', starts fourth generation of hereditary succession]. The Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). Retrieved 26 October 2024 – via Naver News.
  14. ^ "김정은 딸, '주애' 아닌 '주예' ... 주민 개명 권고 있었다" [Kim Jong Un's daughter 'Ju-ye' not 'Ju-ae' ... North Korean citizens ordered to change their names] (YouTube) (in Korean). Seoul, South Korea: Channel A News. 4 September 2024.
  15. ^ a b Yoon, John (19 November 2022). "Kim Jong-un Takes His Daughter to Missile Test Launch". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 19 November 2022. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
  16. ^ a b c Davies, Christian; Kang, Buseong (3 December 2022). "Kim adopts trappings of royalty as he presents 'princess' to North Korea". Financial Times. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
  17. ^ "As North Korea unveils stamps of Kim's daughter, South doubts she is successor". South China Morning Post. 16 February 2023. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
  18. ^ Yim, Hyunsu (18 February 2023). "Kim Jong Un's daughter appears at sports event". Reuters. Retrieved 20 February 2023.
  19. ^ Kim, Tong-hyung (8 September 2023). "Kim Jong Un hosts Chinese and Russian guests at a parade celebrating North Korea's 75th anniversary". Associated Press – via ABC News.
  20. ^ a b McCurry, Justin (5 January 2024). "Kim Ju-ae likely heir to North Korea's Kim Jong-un, says South's spy agency". The Guardian. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
  21. ^ Lloyd Parry, Richard (27 January 2023). "Kim Jong-un 'signalling that daughter Ju-ae will succeed him'". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
  22. ^ Lloyd Parry, Richard (8 February 2023). "Kim Jong-un's daughter Ju-ae appears for North Korean military parade". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
  23. ^ Rai, Arpan (8 February 2023). "Kim Jong-un gives strongest hint yet about his successor at key military event". The Independent. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
  24. ^ Lendon, Brad; Seo, Yoonjung (8 February 2023). "Kim Jong Un puts daughter front and center at lavish military banquet". CNN. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
  25. ^ Kim, Hyung-Jin; Song, Jiwon (4 January 2024). "South Korea views the young daughter of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un as his likely successor". AP News. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
  26. ^ Cho, Joohee; Lee, Hakyung Kate (1 August 2024). "North Korean leader trains daughter to become successor, says intelligence service". ABC News. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
  27. ^ Roush, Ty (4 January 2024). "Who Is Kim Ju Ae? Kim Jong Un's Daughter Will Likely Succeed Him As North Korea's Leader". Forbes. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
  28. ^ "North Korea: Kim's daughter being trained to succeed him". Deutsche Welle. 29 July 2024. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
  29. ^ a b Park, Chan-kyong (31 July 2024). "Will Kim Ju-ae be future North Korea leader? South's ex-spy chief says no". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
  30. ^ Foster-Carter, Aidan (7 August 2024). "Kim Ju Ae is unlikely to ever reign as North Korea's queen". Nikkei Asia. Retrieved 21 October 2024.
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