Why North Korea's Kim Jong-un Brought His 'Daughter' to the ICBM Launch Site

Estimated Born in 2013... North Korea "Beloved Son"
"Bloodline That Completed Nuclear Force" and Other Domestic and International Messages"
Experts Say "Too Early to Conclude as Successor"

North Korea officially revealed the children of Kim Jong-un, General Secretary of the Workers' Party, for the first time. On the 19th, the Korean Central News Agency reported on the test launch of the Hwasong-17 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) that took place the previous day, stating that General Secretary Kim personally appeared "together with his beloved children and wife" to oversee the launch process.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jang Hee-jun] Various interpretations are emerging regarding the intention behind Kim Jong-un, General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea, appearing at the intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) launch site accompanied by his young daughter. Some analyze it as an attempt to convey the message that the 'Hwasong-17' missile has achieved stability as a strategic weapon, while others view it as a demonstration of his commitment to nuclear weapons development 'for future generations.' However, interpretations sharply diverge on whether the appearance of his daughter signals her as a successor.

North Korean state media released footage on the 19th showing Kim Jong-un observing the ICBM launch process at Pyongyang Sunan Airport alongside his wife Ri Sol-ju, his daughter, and Kim Yo-jong, Vice Director of the Workers' Party. Considering that Kim has previously kept his children strictly hidden, revealing his child at the ICBM launch site is seen as a groundbreaking move.

Korean Central News Agency reported that Kim Jong-un "personally came out with his beloved child and wife" to oversee the launch process. The photos released by the agency featured a girl around 10 years old who closely resembles Kim and his wife.

Due to this unprecedented move, the daughter has drawn more attention than the ICBM itself, which was evaluated as practically successful with stage separation and normal flight.

First, Kim Jong-un's bold decision is analyzed as an attempt to send a message that the Hwasong-17 has achieved reliability as a strategic weapon. The intention is to publicize that the weapon system is trustworthy enough to be observed by family members, including his young daughter.

North Korea had also launched the Hwasong-17 on the 3rd of this month. Although the two-stage separation succeeded, the missile failed to maintain normal flight afterward and crashed into the East Sea, being deemed a failure. Frequent failures have raised many doubts about the reliability of the Hwasong-17 as a weapon system.

A young girl dressed in white winter clothes is seen holding the hand of Kim Jong-un, General Secretary of the Workers' Party of North Korea, walking beside a missile or watching its launch.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Hong Min, head of the North Korea Research Division at the Korea Institute for National Unification, analyzed, "By bringing his family along, Kim Jong-un is flaunting the operational stability of the Hwasong-17 missile as a strategic weapon and showing domestically that this is crucial for the security of future generations." He added, "It seems Kim Jong-un wants to demonstrate considerable confidence in deploying tactical nuclear weapons."

Indeed, the Workers' Party organ Rodong Sinmun expressed confidence on its front page on the 20th, stating, "(North Korea) is the strongest intercontinental ballistic missile power on this planet," and praised the missile as "a thrilling title that clearly proves to the world that nuclear preemptive strike rights are not monopolized by the United States, and that our country is a genuine nuclear power capable of countering U.S. nuclear hegemony."

There are also claims that the move intends to demonstrate a 'resolute will' for nuclear weapons development.

Kim In-tae, a senior research fellow at the Institute for National Security Strategy and a defector from the North Korean elite, said, "In North Korea, 'future generations and peace' are both a leader's duty and a propaganda theme. Paradoxically, by having his 'beloved child' appear at a dangerous test launch site, Kim seems to emphasize the legitimacy of nuclear weapons and a firm commitment to their advancement."

He continued, "Yesterday's North Korean news headline was 'Nuclear for nuclear, direct confrontation for direct confrontation,' wasn't it? It seems the 7th nuclear test is almost on a countdown following this ICBM launch." Previously, Rodong Sinmun ran a front-page report on the 19th about Kim Jong-un's on-site guidance of the ICBM launch with the headline "Nuclear for nuclear, direct confrontation for direct confrontation."

Yang Moo-jin, president of the University of North Korean Studies, said, "Bringing family members along reflects confidence in the success and achievements of the Hwasong-17 launch. The presence of the supreme leader's family also amplifies the encouragement to scientists and combatants."

A young girl wearing white winter clothes is seen holding the hand of Kim Jong-un, General Secretary of the Workers' Party of North Korea, walking beside a missile or watching its launch.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Some analyses link Kim Jong-un's public appearance of his daughter to a 'succession scheme,' but expert opinions sharply diverge.

According to intelligence sources, Kim Jong-un and Ri Sol-ju, who married in 2009, are reported to have had children in 2010, 2013, and 2017. The girl appearing in the recent photos is presumed to be the second child, whose name was revealed as 'Kim Ju-ae' through American basketball star Dennis Rodman’s visit to North Korea in 2013.

Jung Sung-jang, head of the North Korea Research Center at the Sejong Institute, said, "Just as Kim Jong-il chose his third son Kim Jong-un, who most resembled him, as his successor at an early stage over his first and second sons, Kim Jong-un may also be considering his daughter, who most resembles him, as a successor. If Kim frequently accompanies his daughter on important on-site inspections in the future, it could be interpreted as a sign that she will be his successor."

However, there are also claims that Kim Jong-un, born in 1984 and still under 40, would not reveal a successor so early.

Yang Moo-jin said, "From Kim Jong-un's perspective, who understands well that 'power cannot be shared even between father and son,' he would not want an early appearance of a successor. Naturally revealing his daughter rather suggests that she is not the successor."

Kim Yong-hyun, professor of North Korean Studies at Dongguk University, also interpreted, "It is too early for the young leader in his 30s to reveal a successor now. Publishing these photos in Rodong Sinmun, which all residents read, aims to instill the expectation that 'I have multiple children who will continue the Paektu bloodline and maintain the regime.'"

Meanwhile, at the launch site, Kim’s wife, daughter, and sister Kim Yo-jong, the so-called 'Paektu bloodline' claimed by North Korea, were all mobilized. It is also believed that there was an intention to subtly emphasize that 'the completion of nuclear forces' is an achievement of the Paektu bloodline declared by North Korea.

Additionally, Korean Central TV released several photos showing Kim Jong-un holding his daughter tightly or holding her hand at the launch site. This appears to be a calculated move to reveal his children to the world, just as he openly showed his wife soon after taking power in 2012, aiming to project a stable and approachable image.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.