"Why Attention is on Kim Juae's Applause: 'Applause Slanted Before Jang Song-taek's Execution'"

"Most Special Seat Among the Main Table, Sitting Next to Kim Jong-un"
Kim Juae Appeared 16 Times Since November Last Year

Park Won-gon, a professor at Ewha Womans University’s Graduate School of North Korean Studies, commented on June 11 about the ongoing speculation that Kim Ju-ae, daughter of North Korean State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong-un, is the successor. He said, "We need to wait a bit longer to see the succession structure," but he paid attention to her clapping gesture.

On the same day, on SBS Radio's 'Kim Tae-hyun's Political Show,' Professor Park said, "What I am most interested in is the clapping." He explained, "Usually, people do a seal clap, clapping quickly above the nose, but the only people who did not do that and clapped slowly and slightly diagonally were Kim Il-sung, Kim Jong-il, and Kim Jong-un. But this time, I saw Kim Ju-ae clapping like that."

He added, "One definite thing that can be inferred from the way she claps is that the fourth-generation succession is happening, and it shows that it is the Paektu bloodline, the direct lineage." However, he cautioned that it is premature to confirm Kim Ju-ae as the current successor based solely on her clapping style.

Professor Park explained, "The clapping is important because before Kim Jong-un’s uncle Jang Song-thaek was purged, he clapped like that. At that time, I talked with intelligence officials and said that Jang Song-thaek would be purged, and indeed he was. That kind of clapping can only be done by direct lineage, and from Kim Jong-un’s perspective, it would have been a challenge."

On the evening of the 8th, the 75th anniversary civil defense forces parade commemorating the establishment of the regime (September 9) was held at Kim Il-sung Square in Pyongyang, attended by Chairman of the State Affairs Commission Kim Jong-un and his daughter Ju-ae, according to a report by the Korean Central News Agency on the 9th. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Kim Ju-ae previously participated in the military parade marking the 75th anniversary of the founding of the North Korean regime on June 8, alongside her father, Chairman Kim. Since her first public appearance at the intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) test launch site on November 18 last year, she has accompanied Kim Jong-un at major events.

Professor Park also noted the change in Kim Ju-ae’s seating on June 8. He said, "First, her seat changed. Previously, she sat in the row right behind, together with her mother Ri Sol-ju, but this time she sat in the front row, immediately to the right of Kim Jong-un." He added, "So, she sat in the most special seat among the presidium."

He continued, "Second, this was the first time Kim Ju-ae appeared at an international event. Since her first appearance on November 18 last year, she has appeared about 16 times, and 13 of those were military-related events. It is also unusual that she continues to focus on attending military-related events."

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