Park Jie-won: "Kim Ju Ae Is Not the Successor... Used to Conceal Son Studying Abroad in the West"

"No Response from Kim Jong Un Despite My Calls,"
"But It Was a Successful Encounter"
"His Son Is Likely Studying Abroad Somewhere in the West"

Park Jie-won, a lawmaker from the Democratic Party of Korea who attended the 80th anniversary Victory Day military parade in China, commented on the appearance of Kim Jong Un's daughter, Kim Ju Ae, on the multilateral diplomatic stage. He claimed, "The son is probably studying abroad somewhere in the Western world," and argued, "They are putting forward Kim Ju Ae to conceal this fact."

"No Woman Has Ever Become a Successor or Head of State in a Socialist Country"

Kim Jong Un, Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of North Korea (right), and his daughter Ju Ae. Photo by Korean Central News Agency Yonhap News.

Park, who served as the Director of the National Intelligence Service during the Moon Jae-in administration, appeared on YTN Radio's "Kim Youngsoo's The Interview" on September 8 and stated, "Currently, there is speculation in the Western world, and especially in our country, that Kim Ju Ae will become Kim Jong Un's successor and is being groomed for succession, but I do not see it that way."

He continued, "In socialist countries and feudal societies, there has never been a case where a daughter or a woman has become a successor or head of state. From my perspective, Kim Jong Un's son is probably studying abroad somewhere in the Western world. They are putting forward Kim Ju Ae to conceal this fact," he asserted.

Park said, "When Kim Jong Un and Kim Yo Jong were around Kim Ju Ae's age, they were studying abroad in Switzerland, and nobody knew about it. Of course, it is true that Kim Jong Un is very fond of Kim Ju Ae. Fathers do tend to be fond of their daughters," he added. He went on to say, "It is true that Kim Ju Ae came to China, but she did not appear at official events such as the military parade or banquet. Since she holds no official position, she would not have been invited to official Chinese events. Kim Ju Ae is not the successor," he emphasized.

North Korean State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong Un and his daughter Ju Ae (red circle) arrived in Beijing, China, at 4 p.m. on the 2nd. Photo by Yonhap News Agency via Korean Central News Agency

Regarding the incident where he was ignored by Kim Jong Un during the Victory Day commemorative event at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on September 3, Park said, "I don't think there is any need to consider it bad or negative at all." Park explained, "At the time, I was standing a few steps behind and called out twice, 'Chairman Kim Jong Un, I am Park Jie-won,' but he did not turn around. The security guards strongly restrained me, so I thought that was enough and left." Park added that he also called out to North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui, saying, "Is that you, Sangdong? It's been a long time!" but she also ignored him.

Park said, "This time, when National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik met Kim Jong Un for the first time in seven years and greeted him, Kim Jong Un responded with a handshake. The fact that I called out to him, and that Choe Son Hui made eye contact with me-these are all very good signals," he argued. "I believe Kim Jong Un read that 'President Lee Jae-myung truly hopes for inter-Korean dialogue.' Therefore, I do not see this as a negative encounter; rather, I would call it a successful meeting," he concluded.