North Korea’s recent Workers’ Party congress has reignited debate over who will succeed Kim Jong-un, with many analysts believing his daughter Kim Ju-ae is being groomed as the next leader. However, experts remain divided, citing North Korea’s deeply patriarchal society as a potential barrier.
According to Mitch Shin of the Diplomat, the ingrained Neo-Confucian monarchy makes it unlikely that ageing generals would accept a woman as supreme leader. Others suggest Kim may be using his daughter as a “human shield” for a hidden male successor.
Conversely, some argue that the Mount Paektu bloodline takes precedence over gender, and that Kim Ju-ae’s public appearances with her father signal her inheritance. South Korea’s intelligence service claims Kim is close to naming her as future leader.
State media has never named Kim Ju-ae, referring to her only as the “most beloved” child. Her prominence is seen by some as performative, aimed at portraying Kim as a father figure. For now, observers agree that the regime is not ready to officially declare a successor.
