hjust turned 10, Ju Ae, the only one of North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un’s three children, 39, to appear in public. Until a few months ago no one knew her but the girl has now become a constant presence at military parades in Pyongyang and her face even appears on local postage stamps. A role model for North Korean girls, of course, but also something much more important.
Leader Kim Jong-Un with daughter Ju Ae, Pyongyang, February 9, 2023 (Getty Images)
Ju Ae, mysterious daughter of Kim Jong-Un
In reality, the existence of the child had been known since 2013, when one of Kim Jong-Un’s few Western friends, Dennis Rodman, a former American basketball champion, let slip the name of the leader’s newborn daughter in an interview. Rodman had called him a “good father”, telling the English newspaper The Guardian that he had spent a quiet beach holiday with the tyrant’s family.
Kim Jong-Un’s “heir”.
For some months now, Ju Ae has been at the center of an ambitious operation by grooming wanted by the father Kim Jong Un. He himself is following every stage of his daughter’s preparation, with the aim of transforming the country’s image and showing a new face of North Korea. Maybe even giving her the leadership one day. And to begin with, no one, absolutely no one can be called like Ju Ae.
Of Ju Ae there is only one
The local media already refer to her with titles such as the “Noble Child of the Highest Dignity”, the “Beloved Daughter”. But North Korean parents who dared to call their daughters with the same first name have already received orders to go to special offices and immediately change birth certificates. A custom not unusual in North Korean history (it has already happened in the case of other leaders, including Jong-Un) and also made necessary by the fact that Kim is one of the most common surnames in the country.
Kim Ju Ae, the new face of North Korea?
Compared to South Korea, for years at the center of a phenomenon – theHallyuLhe Korean wave – which has transformed the country into a growing and respected cultural power around the world, North Koreans suffer from the tyrannical image perpetuated by their own regime. The answer? Ju Ae, always polite and smilingwith her little clothes chosen by her father almost in his image and likeness – and with the help, they say, of a personal stylist – would have been chosen to “refresh” the image of the entire country internationally.
Kim Ju-ae at a military parade, Pyongyang, February 9, 2023 (Getty Images)
A little girl between generals and tanks
In the last months Kim Ju Ae has become a regular presence at North Korean military events and even at official banquets. Her father holds her hand and she shows no hint of shyness, not at all intimidated by the passage of arms and troops, and always appearing perfectly at ease with her among Kim Jong-Un’s generals. She did it too in her debut, last November, on the occasion of a menacing test for the launch of intercontinental ballistic missiles, highly criticized in the West.
Caresses to father Kim Jong-Un
Last week, on the occasion of the celebrations in the capital Pyongyang of the 75th anniversary of the founding of the armed forces, Ju Ae showed all his enthusiasm by admiring the parade in the square and caressing his father’s face. Demonstrations of affection probably staged by the same Kim Jong-Un who, in the presence of his daughter, suddenly seems much more docile and accessible than usual.
Ju Ae as the aunt
Among the experts there are those who doubt the possibility that the little girl will inherit her father’s position, given the patriarchal nature of North Korean politics. And indeed the women of Kim Jong-Un’s regime, leaders since 2011, are very few, including the feared Kim Yo Jong, younger sister of the leader and his spokesperson. In addition, little Ju Ae also has an older brother, who would be entitled to the title but who has never been seen in public.
Kim Yo-Jong, sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un (Getty Images)
The (possible) reinvention of Kim Jong Un
The same experts are, on the other hand, more inclined to identify the small one as a real propaganda tool. The leader Kim Jong-Un seems to rely on the innocence of his daughter Ju Ae to transform his image: the one who until now has always had himself worshiped as a god now wants to go from feared despot to a simple family man. But maybe not even the adorable and submissive Ju Ae can do it.
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