If you thought your internship was high pressure, spare a thought for Kim Ju Ae. While most 13 year olds are worrying about school exams or TikTok trends, Ju Ae is busy inspecting intercontinental ballistic missiles and wearing matching leather trench coats with her father, Kim Jong Un. The big question at the latest party congress was simple: is this teenager actually the next “Supreme Leader” in waiting?
North Korea is a country of 25 million people that functions essentially like a medieval dynasty. It has only ever been ruled by the Kim family, and the latest signals suggest the “Paektu bloodline” is going female for the next generation.Seoul’s spy agency seems to think so, reporting that she is already giving her tuppence on policy matters. Not bad for someone who cannot legally drive a car.
A Star is Born (in State Media)
Ju Ae first popped up in 2022, holding her dad’s hand while looking at a missile. Since then, she has become a fixture of the propaganda machine.
- The Look: She sports the same “Dictator Chic” aesthetic as her father, complete with dark sunglasses and a serious “I might launch a nuke today” expression.
- The Language: State media now calls her “the respected child,” a title usually reserved for the big boss himself.
- The Generals: In a truly bizarre sight, top military generals have been spotted kneeling to whisper in her ear. It is safe to say she is not getting the usual “children should be seen and not heard” treatment.
Breaking the Glass Ceiling (or Just the Floor?)
Not everyone is convinced that North Korea is ready for a Girl Boss. Former diplomat Ryu Hyun-woo, who defected in 2019, points out that the country is deeply patriarchal. Some taxi drivers in Pyongyang apparently still spit three times if a woman is their first customer of the day to ward off bad luck.
Ryu reckons the military elite might find the idea of a teenage girl in charge a bit too much to swallow. He suggests Kim is just using her to look like a “family man” and soften his image as a ruthless dictator. However, other experts argue that in a “royal” system, bloodline beats gender every time. If Daddy says she is the boss, then she is the boss.
The Family Business
Kim Jong Un’s own sister, Kim Yo Jong, was recently promoted to propaganda minister. Analysts think she is being groomed to be the “Auntie Guardian,” making sure the transition goes smoothly when the time comes.
Kim Jong Un himself took over at 27 and promptly dashed all hopes of reform by executing his uncle. If Ju Ae does take the throne, don’t expect her to start a democracy or open a Starbucks in Pyongyang. Experts believe she is being raised in the same “iron grip” tradition as her ancestors.
For now, Kim seems to be enjoying the global obsession with his daughter. He is a bit of an attention seeker, after all. Whether Ju Ae is the future of the regime or just a very well-dressed prop remains to be seen, but she certainly has the most terrifying CV in the world.
Related topic: Asia
