N. Korea’s Kim Jong-un shares spotlight with daughter at military events, prompts further succession speculation
- She appeared alongside Kim at a massive parade, where she marched with him and her mother, Ri Sol Ju, at the head of military commanders
- Her presence has boosted speculation she could be in line for a leadership position – even the top job – in the hereditary dictatorship
Sharing drinks, watching missile parades and dining with senior army commanders, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s daughter was centre stage with her father and mother at major military events this week.
Her presence has added to speculation that she could be in line for a leadership position – maybe even the top job itself – in the nuclear-armed country’s hereditary dictatorship.
She appeared on Wednesday alongside Kim at a massive military parade, where state media showed her marching with him and her mother, Ri Sol Ju, at the head of military commanders, sharing juice drinks and speaking in each other’s ears as they observed the events.
A day earlier, Ri and the daughter were once again with Kim as he wined, dined and flattered military commanders at a lavish banquet commemorating this week’s army foundation anniversary.
“For all we know this is just him doting on a favourite child, but the more that she shows up, the more it seems that she’s either being fully groomed for leadership or at least floated as a possibility,” said Mason Richey, a professor at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies in Seoul.