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As a birthday treat, a good father might take his ten-year-old daughter to the ballet or a Disney movie. Three years ago, North Korea’s ruling dictator Kim Jong-un (a.k.a. ‘Brilliant Comrade’) took his ten-year-old daughter Kim Ju-ae to the launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile. It was her first public outing. Subsequent kiddie treats have included visits to the mausoleum that houses the bodies of her grandfather, Kim Jong-il (‘the Dear Leader’), and great grandfather, Kim Il-sung (‘the Great Leader’). She also got to stand at military parades, inspect nuclear facilities and make an official visit to Beijing.

In the North Korean media, Kim Ju-ae is referred to as the supreme leader’s ‘beloved’ or ‘precious’ daughter. In effect she seems to have taken on the role of first lady. Speculation about her elevation to successor designate reached a peak last month when Kim Jong-un and his mini-me daughter, like stereo-typical baddies in Hollywood movies, wore matching black leather trench coats to an official parade. South Korea’s National Intelligence Service then reported that she is undergoing ‘successor training’.

For reasons unknown, Kim Jong-un’s son has been completely overlooked. Instead, Kim Ju-ae’s rival to the throne is another woman, her 38-year-old aunt, Kim Yo-jong, who is as slight as her brother is fat. It is often assumed that North Korea is a determinedly patriarchal society, but in fact Kim Jong-un does favour women,........

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