North Korea, Kim Jong Un's daughter has been promoted? = ”Kim Joo-ae successor theory” attracts attention again

On the 29th of last month, the South Korean intelligence agency, the National Intelligence Service, announced to a National Assembly committee that the daughter of North Korean leader Kim Jung Eun, Joo Ae, "appears to have been upgraded in status."
North Korea has been ruled by the Kim family since the country was founded in 1948, and Ju-ae is seen as a possible successor.
Juae was first reported by North Korean state media.
This was in November 2022. At the time, the Rodong Sinmun, the newspaper of the Workers' Party of North Korea, and other newspapers reported in an article that the country had successfully launched the ICBM (intercontinental ballistic missile) "Hwasong-17,"
They published photos of a girl in a white down coat walking hand in hand with Kim in front of the "Hwasong 17" and said, "He was accompanied by his 'beloved child.'"
Since then, Mr. Juae has been frequently seen in the North Korean media, including accompanying Chairman Kim on military inspection tours.
It is the first time that a North Korean leader's child has appeared in public so early, breaking with previous practice of keeping them out of the public eye until they become part of the state apparatus.
This is unusual. Kim Jong-il is said to have three children with his wife Ri Sol-ju, and initially, it was widely believed that Ju-ae was Kim's second child. However, a South Korean government-affiliated newspaper reported that the family had been arrested.
Last May, the president of the Institute for National Unification, Mr. Nguyen Kang, said that Jue was likely the first child and that he was "considered to be one of the candidates for succession."
It is believed that this is intended to demonstrate the legitimacy of the "Paektu bloodline" (which indicates a direct lineage from Kim Jong Un's grandfather, Chairman Kim Il-sung).
However, North Korean media has acknowledged the existence of Kim's daughter, but has only referred to her as a "beloved child" and
In January of this year, South Korea's National Intelligence Service said that Jue was a "promising successor."
In September last year, he told the National Assembly Intelligence Committee, "North Korea has a strong attachment to the 'Baekdu bloodline,' and because it is a male-dominated society, we cannot judge Kim Joo-ae as the successor at this stage.
In July, the National Intelligence Service reported to the National Assembly the results of its analysis that Jue was "receiving training to become the successor." However, it was unclear whether another sibling was the successor.
The possibility of her being arrested was also not ruled out. Furthermore, on the 29th of last month, the National Intelligence Service reported to the National Assembly that Joo-ae's status was "rising."
The reasons cited included the fact that he was guided by North Korean leader Kim Yo-jong and assisted by North Korean Foreign Minister Choi Son-hui.
The National Intelligence Service's report has once again drawn attention to the "Kim Joo-ae succession theory."
On the same day, Park Ji-won, former head of the National Intelligence Service of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea, said on a radio program, "I don't think so (Jue is the successor)."
She pointed out that there has not been a female leader to date, and that the true successor may be her son. Although there are rumors of a son's existence, it has not been confirmed at this time. "North Korea is a feudal society," Park said.
"It's a very complicated relationship, and Kim Jong Un would have had a son by any means necessary," he speculated. Park added that the son is currently studying abroad, just like the former Kim Jong Un and Kim's sister, Kim Yo Jong.
He speculated that "the reason why Mr. Juae was featured is to hide his son's study abroad." On the 31st of last month, North Korea launched a missile from the capital, Pyongyang, toward the Sea of Japan.
North Korea launched one intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). According to the Korean Central News Agency, the launch was witnessed by Kim Jong Un. However, Kim has often been the ambassador to the United States for missile launches in the past.
It has not been confirmed whether Jue, who accompanied him to the meeting, was also present this time.