North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has reportedly chosen his teenage daughter Kim Ju-ae as his heir.
South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS) told lawmakers that Ju-ae who is believed to be around 13 years old is now at the successor-designate stage.
According to intelligence briefings Ju-ae’s increasing visibility at high-profile events including military parades, missile tests and international appearances such as a visit with her father to Beijing suggests she is being groomed to lead the nuclear-armed state.
If confirmed it would be the first time a woman has been positioned to rule North Korea.
The announcement has sparked a whirlwind of reactions online:
Many social media users have focused on Kim Jong-un’s public displays with his daughter dubbing him a “girl dad” and expressing surprise at the affectionate moments between them caught on state media.
Some netizens even lightheartedly commented on how warm the footage looks compared with the usual stern images of the North Korean leader.
Many pointed out the unexpected nature of a potential female ruler in a deeply patriarchal set-up of the country.
One user wrote appreciating the progressive step, ‘North Korea selecting a female leader before US was not on my bingo cards.’
Many users drew comparisons with other countries to appreciate the historic decision including the United States which has never elected a female president.
While South Korea’s intelligence services describe her as being on track to become successor, North Korea has not officially confirmed Ju-ae’s name, age or formal title, typically referring to her only as Kim’s “most beloved” daughter.
Comments are closed.