Kim Jong-un brings a guest to Beijing: His daughter and potential heir

North Korea’s chief, Kim Jong-un, travelled to Beijing this week to hobnob with the presidents of China and Russia, two of his nation’s key allies. But he appears to have had one other goal for the journey: introducing his daughter as his potential successor.Kim Ju-ae, accompanied Kim to Beijing, the place he joined leaders from greater than 20 international locations at a army parade on Wednesday. After the particular prepare carrying Kim’s entourage pulled into Beijing Railway Station on Tuesday, Ju-ae stood shut to Kim as he was greeted by senior Chinese officers, as per images launched by North Korean media. It is the primary abroad journey that Ju-ae is thought to have taken with Kim.Ju-ae, believed to be 12 years outdated, is the one youngster of Kim to have appeared within the North’s state media, which refers to her as “dear daughter”. Since late 2022, she has accompanied her father to army parades, weapons assessments and different politically vital home occasions. South Korean analysts have stated Kim seems to be grooming her as an heir, although they’ve additionally been cautious not to soar to conclusions. The undeniable fact that he introduced Ju-ae on his first journey to China in six years, and to a main gathering, is a vital new signal of her rising standing, some stated.Yang Moo-jin, a former president of Seoul-based University of North Korean Studies, stated the lady was going by way of the ritual of “introducing herself” to the management of China, North Korea’s most essential ally. The scene on the Beijing station “showed that she was being treated as No. 2 of North Korea not only at home but also abroad,” stated Cheong Seong-chang, a North Korea professional at Seoul-based Sejong Institute. “By taking her to China, Kim Jong-un is sending a strong signal to the world that she is going to be his successor.”Although Kim was designated because the successor of his father, Kim Jong-il, at an early age, that standing was saved secret till his father suffered a stroke in 2008. The gathering in Beijing highlighted Kim’s transformation from a nuclear-armed worldwide pariah into a world participant. He has constructed up diplomatic leverage by rising nearer with China amid the rivalry between Beijing and Washington, and by intervening in Russia’s battle towards Ukraine. After the parade, Putin and Kim travelled within the Russian chief’s automobile to the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, the place they held talks for 2 and a half hours, in accordance to Russian media. Putin thanked Kim for serving to his battle effort in Ukraine by sending troops and weapons. Kim stated he cherished the brand new alliance treaty the 2 leaders signed final 12 months in Pyongyang. North Korea thought of serving to Moscow “a fraternal duty,” Kim was quoted as saying by Russian information company Tass. “If there is anything we can do to help Russia, we will definitely do it,” he added. nyt