Every authoritarian regime, particularly a dynastic one, at some point has to face the question of succession. North Korea is no exception. And it appears that the Kim regime, now in its third generation under Kim Jong Un, is planning for the future.

This week, South Korea’s spy agency confirmed that Kim Jong Un’s teenage daughter, Kim Ju Ae, has been anointed as his successor. It is worth being sceptical about this. Whilst Kim Ju Ae’s rise is not unlikely, the only person who can confirm the truth is the Supreme Leader himself.

The 13-to-14-year-old Kim Ju Ae has certainly been very visible over the past year, even accompanying her daddy to a missile launch. When her father visited Beijing on 3 September last year to attend China’s Victory Day celebrations, observers were somewhat surprised when, after the corpulent Kim Jong Un disembarked from his train, he was followed by young Ju Ae. One New Year’s Day, Ju Ae accompanied her mother and father to the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun, a mausoleum for North Korea’s first and second leaders, Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il. 

Confirming Ju Ae’s rising importance, North Korean state media referred to her as ‘respected daughter’ in February........

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