Photos of the 10-year-old have deepened the debate over whether she's being primed as a successor. 9News
After her first public appearance, South Korea's spy service told lawmakers that it assessed the girl pictured is Kim's second child, who is about 10 and whose name is Ju Ae.
South Korean media previously speculated Kim has three children — born in 2010, 2013 and 2017 — and that the first child is a son while the third is a daughter. But speculation that his eldest child is a son has led some experts to question how a daughter can be Kim's successor given the deeply male-dominated, patriarchal nature of North Korean society.
She said that Kim may think his daughter's unveiling is an effective distraction while conditioning Washington, Seoul and others to living with the North Korean nuclear threat as "the spectacle of Ju Ae appears to eclipse the intensifying gravity of North Korea's nuclear and missile threat". Experts say the Hwasong-17 is North Korea's longest-range missile — designed to strike the mainland US — but is still under development. Its launch was part of a barrage of missile tests that North Korea says were meant to issue a warning over US-South Korean military drills that it views as an invasion rehearsal.
Cheong said Kim may be preventing potential pushback for choosing a daughter as a fourth-generation leader, so he likely brought her to a successful ICBM launch event to help public loyalty toward him be carried on smoothly to his daughter.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Kim Jong Un says North Korea's ultimate goal is to have the world's strongest nuclear forceNorth Korean leader announces his country's intentions during the launch of its largest ballistic missile, which scientists vow will fly in the direction indicated by Kim Jong Un.
Read more »
North Korea aims to have world’s strongest nuclear force, says Kim Jong-unThe country’s “ultimate goal is to possess the world’s most powerful strategic force, the absolute force unprecedented in the century,” Kim said.
Read more »
Kim Jong-un daughter inspects another ICBM as leader hails North Korea’s nuclear powerKim is joined by young daughter on inspection of his forces, increasing speculation that he is paving way for next generation of Kim dynasty
Read more »
North Korea plans 'world's most powerful' nuclear force, Kim Jong-un saysNorth Korean leader Kim Jong-Un is planning to build "the world&x27;s most powerful" nuclear force, state news agency KCNA reported on Sunday.
Read more »
Melissa Caddick inquest entering final daysThe inquest has heard from a number of key witnesses including her husband Anthony Koletti, police officers and psychologists. 9News
Read more »
Man charged after allegedly crashing into police car while drunkA man has been charged after allegedly crashing into a police car in Sydney's south-west yesterday. 9News
Read more »