SEOUL- Just over a year ago, the daughter of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un made her first public appearance, walking hand in hand with her father as they inspected the launch of the intercontinental ballistic missile Hwasong-17.
The cherubic Kim Ju Ae, said to be 10 or 11 in 2023, has made a total of 19 public appearances since November 2022.
She is always seen beside her father, with North Korean media referring to her as "Beloved Child" or "Respected Child".
While South Korean officials initially doubted that she could be heir apparent to Mr Kim, they are now having a rethink.
In March 2023, lawmaker Yoo Sang-bum told local media after a closed-door briefing by the National Intelligence Service (NIS) that the agency believed Mr Kim, said to be 39 in 2023, was too young and healthy to designate a successor so early.
However, on Dec 3, NIS chief Cho Tae-yong said on a television programme that he believes Kim Ju Ae to be the heir apparent.
Denne historien er fra December 13, 2023-utgaven av The Straits Times.
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Denne historien er fra December 13, 2023-utgaven av The Straits Times.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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