The Guardian view on North Korea and the Kims: whoever’s at the helm, the regime serves only itself | Editorial

Speculation that the leader’s teenage daughter will succeed him is rife. But Ju-ae’s high profile is about continuity, not change

North Korea is unique in turning a putatively communist state into a dynastic system now in its third generation. So while the proposition that Kim Jong-un’s teenage daughter will inherit power is sparking debate, unexpected political transitions are not entirely new. On Monday, South Korea’s intelligence agency said that it had “credible” information that Kim Ju-ae is positioned as her father’s successor. Its briefing to legislators in Seoul followed appearances alongside her father highlighting her military credentials – including driving a tank – and months of rhetorical inflation, with state media describing her as “a great person of guidance”.

The Mount Paektu bloodline – linking the family to a sacred mountain seen as the mythical origin of the Korean people – is championed in North Korean propaganda. Yet, given that Ju-ae is around 13 and her father only 42, talk of succession appears wildly premature. Very little is known about her: her exact age is uncertain; she may in fact be called Ju-hae – North Korean media does not name her; and she may have two siblings, possibly boys.

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