Khaberni - South Korean intelligence believes that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is taking steps aimed at enhancing his daughter's status to be his successor in power, and confirms that there are indications she is contributing to political affairs.
This was revealed by two South Korean parliamentarians who spoke today, Thursday, saying that the National Intelligence Service in South Korea notices that the daughter is increasingly appearing with her father at major official occasions, which suggests she is being prepared for a political role.
According to the parliamentarians, the agency will closely watch whether the daughter—believed to be named Kim Ju Ae—will attend an upcoming meeting of the ruling Workers' Party, how she will be introduced, and whether she will take on any official position.
Reuters reports that Ju Ae, who is believed to be in her early teens, has frequently appeared in North Korean state media alongside her father on field trips including weapon projects inspections.
Reuters adds that the ninth congress of the Workers' Party, which will start later this month, may reveal the main political objectives for the coming years in the fields of economy, foreign affairs, and defense.
The daughter after the sister
Meanwhile, Agence France-Presse reports that the Kim family has held power in the country with an iron grip since North Korea was founded in 1948, and Kim inherited power from his father, who had inherited it from his grandfather, noting that it is a "socialist republic".
The agency relays from analysts, whose identities were not disclosed, that the girl could take on the second highest position in the party.
The West views North Korea with concern, closely following its activities in armament, especially given its closeness with both China and Russia.
This is not the first time that Western media have discussed the potential rise of the North Korean leader's daughter, noting that it had previously also spoken about a potential rise for his younger sister Kim Yo Jong, then returned and talked about a decline in her role.
