Kim Jong-un Fronts His Second Daughter in 'Missile Marketing'... What's His Intention?

Consistently Appearing 'With Missiles' Since Year-End
"Heir Apparent Designation" vs. "ICBM Propaganda Tool"
North Korea Hints at 'Nuclear Force Enhancement' for Future Generations

[Asia Economy Reporter Jang Hee-jun] There are various interpretations regarding Kim Ju-ae, the second daughter of North Korean State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong-un, appearing consecutively at official events. Analyses range from her being 'designated as the successor' as she accompanies the supreme leader at missile-related sites, to interpretations that the daughter is being used as a 'propaganda tool for missiles.'

According to diplomatic and security authorities on the 4th, North Korea revealed on January 1 through Korean Central TV footage of Chairman Kim firmly holding his daughter Kim Ju-ae’s hand while inspecting missile facilities. The noteworthy points are the timing and location. The media broadcast Kim Ju-ae’s appearance while reporting the results of the Workers' Party Central Committee plenary meeting on New Year's Day. She was featured in a major announcement containing this year’s national governance direction and various military strategies.

Scenes of Chairman Kim Jong Un inspecting missile facilities, released by Korean Central TV on the 1st. Kim Ju-ae is accompanying him, holding his hand tightly. Photo by Korean Central TV

Furthermore, the place visited by the father and daughter is presumed to be the Taesong Machine Factory near Pyongyang. It is known as North Korea’s oldest missile production base, where major ballistic missiles are finally assembled and completed before being delivered to the military. The missiles captured in the background with Kim Ju-ae were identified as the medium-range ballistic missile (IRBM) Hwasong-12 and the KN-23, known as the North Korean version of the Iskander.

This is Kim Ju-ae’s third appearance. The commonality is that she has always been seen alongside missiles. Her first appearance was on November 18 last year, when North Korea launched the intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) Hwasong-17, and she was seen sitting beside Chairman Kim at the site. Then, on the 27th of the same month, she accompanied him to an event celebrating the successful ICBM launch and commending the developers.

Unlike her first appearance, when she wore a padded jumper and appeared as a relatively innocent child, she appeared more like an adult woman, adjusting her attire, during her second appearance. At that time, North Korean military officials bowed their upper bodies to greet the child, and Kim Ju-ae stood upright while holding hands. This contrasts with the past, when Chairman Kim Il-sung was known to have taught military officials to greet Kim Jong-il or Kim Kyong-hui by saying, "Greet your uncle." Even with the 'Paektu bloodline,' this was unprecedented in North Korea.

Especially, state media referred to Kim Ju-ae as a "beloved child" during her first appearance, but elevated the term to "honored child" in the second report. Using honorifics for someone other than the supreme leader is also considered unusual.

"Consecutive accompaniment beside missiles is no coincidence... designated successor"

Kim Ju-ae attending an event honoring contributors to the intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) test launch. / Chosun Central News Agency [Image source=Yonhap News]

Jung Sung-jang, head of the North Korea Research Center at the Sejong Institute, raised the 'successor theory' regarding Kim Ju-ae’s consecutive appearances. He said, "It is no coincidence that Kim Ju-ae accompanied the test launch site of the Hwasong-17 capable of striking the U.S. mainland, the Hwasong-12 capable of striking Guam and Japan, and the KN-23 capable of striking the entire South Korean territory," interpreting it as "part of successor training."

Jung also claimed, "It is to indirectly imprint on North Korean residents once again that Kim Ju-ae will be the future successor." Since North Korea thoroughly prepares materials disclosed externally in advance, it is speculated that the Propaganda and Agitation Department led by Party Vice Director Kim Yo-jong meticulously prepared the photos for the New Year's Day broadcast.

However, the fact that Kim Ju-ae is a daughter and that male superiority and female inferiority (namjon yeobi) ideology is widespread in North Korea raise doubts about the 'successor theory.' Regarding this, Jung countered, "Kim Jong-un, who studied in Switzerland during his teenage years, is not as strongly influenced by male superiority ideology as Kim Jong-il was," adding, "Even though Kim Ju-ae is a girl, if she is gutsy, politically ambitious, and strongly willing to inherit power and policies, she would inevitably be chosen as the successor."

The fact that Chairman Kim’s younger sister, Party Vice Director Kim Yo-jong, is demonstrating influence as the regime’s second-in-command, and that Kim Kyong-hui enjoyed authority comparable to the supreme leader during Kim Jong-il’s era, also supports this view.

'Symbol of the future generation'... "Using daughter to promote ICBM"

Kim Juae attending an event honoring contributors to the intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) test launch. / Chosun Central News Agency [Image source=Yonhap News]

There is also an analysis that Chairman Kim simply used his daughter as a 'missile propaganda tool.' In fact, at Kim Ju-ae’s first appearance, not only South Korean media but also major foreign news outlets extensively reported it. For North Korea, which aims to be recognized internationally as a nuclear-armed state, this was effective publicity for the ICBM launch.

There is also an interpretation that Kim Ju-ae symbolizes North Korea’s 'future generation.' The future generation implies that North Korea’s nuclear force development and strengthening strategy will continue to the next generation, conveying the message that 'only nuclear force can protect North Korea’s next generation.'

At the commemorative photo session where Kim Ju-ae made her second appearance on November 27 last year, Chairman Kim said, "In today’s world where confrontation by strength and power determines victory or defeat, only when we become the strongest, not the weak, can we protect the present and future of our country and nation, as history shows."

Professor Yang Moo-jin of the University of North Korean Studies interpreted, "(Kim Ju-ae’s appearance) implies that only nuclear force can guarantee the future of the younger generation," adding, "Showing his daughter in front of the ICBM developers seems to be a request from the father to the military to 'defend the Paektu bloodline to the end.'"

However, Professor Yang expressed skepticism about the 'successor theory.' He said, "If she were a successor, idolization propaganda should accompany it, but there is no idolization propaganda about Kim Ju-ae yet," adding, "Therefore, she cannot be seen as a successor, and it should be interpreted as sending a message that nuclear weapons are necessary to protect the future generation, including his own daughter."

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