No Clear Successor Yet: The Case of Kim Ju-ae

– Looking Back at Kim Sol-song, Forward to Kim Ju-ae –

Jung Dae-jin,

Professor, Halla University (Wonju)

Anyone with experience in organizational life knows this: personnel decisions remain unclear until they're finalized. In hindsight, all the speculation and rumor often amount to nothing. So, is Kim Ju-ae truly an exception to that rule?

North Korea’s state-run media has referred to her using phrases like “respected child,” “great guide,” and even “shining female general.” Most recently, on May 9, she accompanied Kim Jong-un to the Russian Embassy in Pyongyang for Victory Day celebrations, again described as the “respected child.”

Taken at face value, these appearances may suggest she’s already considered the heir. But, looking at the ideological framework established by the May 25 Instruction in 1967—which laid the groundwork for the nation’s hereditary rule—and the case of Kim Jong-il’s daughter, Kim Sol-song, we see good reason to approach any conclusions about Kim Ju-ae’s future with prudence.

The May 25 Instruction marked a turning point in North Korean history, solidifying Kim Il-sung’s

one-man rule and monolithic ideology.

In The House of Vines, Kim Jong-il’s aunt Sung Hye-rang recalls how the May 25 Instruction reorganized North Korea around Kim Il-sung. Before 1967, political factions existed and movement was relatively free, but the directive quickly imposed a rigid, one-man dictatorship.

Along with redefining the character of the North Korean system, the May 25 Instruction also introduced unwritten principles for choosing a successor. 

A potential heir needed to faithfully carry forward the leader’s ideology and vision—qualities demonstrated through political control, military influence, and personal charisma. These criteria seem to have guided the grooming of both Kim Jong-il and Kim Jong-un, who began cultivating loyal networks and receiving behind-the-scenes training from a young age, all while being framed as worthy heirs.

Though there’s a possibility Kim Ju-ae could follow the same path, it's still too soon to gauge whether she possesses the political competence or power base required. 

Even if she is being prepared for leadership, her actual influence over the Party or military remains unclear. 

Some argue her treatment by high-ranking officials and even Kim Yo-jong at public events signals her status, but in a society like North Korea, who would risk treating Kim Jong-un’s daughter as an ordinary child? This brings to mind Kim Sol-song, Kim Jong-il’s eldest daughter.

Sol-song received an elite education in Switzerland, studying arts and political theory, and was groomed for a role close to that of a successor. Seen as Kim Il-sung’s favorite granddaughter, many believed she would inherit Kim Jong-un’s position, handpicked by Kim Jong-il. As a child, appearing in public with both leaders, she likely commanded deep respect from senior officials.

Yet Sol-song never officially entered the succession track. A common explanation is that North Korea has never envisioned a female leader. 

While the regime places great emphasis on the Mount Paektu bloodline, even suggesting that a woman from that lineage outranks men of lesser origin, it remains uncertain whether such a woman could ever assume supreme power.

Kim Ju-ae’s appearances today seem more like a strategic move to highlight the Mount Paektu bloodline and reinforce internal loyalty than genuine signs of succession. 

If we assume that Kim Yo-jong, her aunt and a key figure behind the Propaganda and Agitation Department, is orchestrating this display as part of a broader family operation, the interpretation gains even more weight. 

Despite her frequent public appearances, unless she is officially named to a position at a Party meeting, Kim Ju-ae is still best understood as the “respected child” rather than a declared successor.

It’s also possible that this period represents a kind of informal grooming, but the precedent set by Kim Sol-song—once cherished by both Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il—serves as a cautionary example. Her eventual withdrawal from public view casts a long shadow over Kim Ju-ae’s prospects.

Just as Sol-song disappeared from the stage with the rise of Kim Jong-un, we can't rule out the possibility that Kim Ju-ae might one day fade into the background with the emergence of another figure. Still, we should be careful not to jump to grim conclusions. 

Disappearing from public view in North Korea doesn’t necessarily mean someone has fallen into misfortune. There’s a tendency to oversimplify the workings of the regime. When it comes to Kim Ju-ae, a more measured and thoughtful perspective is needed.