TL:DR – “Kim Jong Un’s Daughter May Encounter Deadly Succession Battle with Ruthless Aunt”
- North Korea’s Kim Jong-un may have named his daughter, Kim Ju-ae, as his successor, sparking potential conflicts with his sister, Kim Yo Jong.
- Kim Ju-ae, aged 13-14, has increased her public appearances, suggesting a future leadership role.
- Experts warn of a violent power struggle, recalling Kim Jong-un’s history of purging rivals.
- Kim Jong-un’s health issues raise concerns about leadership succession in North Korea.
Kim Jong Un’s daughter could face deadly succession battle against ‘ruthless’ aunt | News World
South Korea says it believes Kim has chosen a successor – but it could lead to a divide in the family (Pictures: Getty/AP/WTX News)
North Korea has been ruled by Kim Jong-un with an iron fist for more than 14 years after the death of his father in 2011.
This week, rumours that Kim Jong-un has chosen his daughter, Kim Ju-ae, as his successor have spread – but the choice could lead to a bitter battle with his sister.
Until a few years ago, the young teenager was kept out of the public eye, but has recently been attending high-profile events with her dictator father.
But Kim’s plans could be thwarted by his 38-year-old sister, Kim Yo Jong, who is reported to be planning a seizure of power if her brother dies.
Kim Yo Jong currently leads the propaganda department of the country and is held in high esteem by those across the country.
An expert has now revealed that a fight for power between Kim’s daughter and sister could end with bloody consequences.
Kim Jong-un’s sister, Kim Yo Jong (right) could fight to take over power of the country (Picture: Reuters)
Kim Ju-ae has been making more appearances with her father (Picture: AP)
Fyodor Tertitskiy, a Russian and South Korean historian, told the Mail: ‘The losing side could be purged with extreme prejudice, which will mean labor camps, which will mean executions, potentially even public executions or punishments for relatives.
‘One of the things we’ve learned from North Korean history is that no one, even if you are tied to the precious Kim dynasty, is safe.’
Kim previously murdered his own uncle by firing squad, so internal fights for power in the family aren’t something new.
The North Korean leader is currently 42 years old but has faced health issues in the past from his heavy drinking and smoking.
His family has a history of heart issues, and the South Korean spy agency said that Kim has suffered from obesity-related problems like diabetes and high blood pressure.
If he were to pass away or become incapacitated, a brutal fight for power could unfold behind North Korean borders.
What do we know about Kim Jong-un’s daughter?
Kim Ju-ae is believed to be around 13-14 years old (Picture: AFP)
The entire family of Kim Jong-un is secretive, and there is still speculation about how many children he and his wife, Ko Yong-hui, have together.
It is reported that Kim Ju-ae is the middle child of three. She is believed to be around the age of 13 or 14, but her birthday isn’t known.
She was introduced as an infant to former NBA star Dennis Rodman during one of his visits to North Korea in early 2013.
Her first public appearance in Western media was in November 2022 when she was pictured accompanying her father during an inspection of the country’s largest ballistic missile, a Hwasong-17 intercontinental.
Before that, Kim Ju-ae’s existence had never been confirmed.
Her recently public profile could be an indication that the teenager will later become a leader and present the Kim family in the style of a monarchy.