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Is North Korea’s Kim Jong-un preparing his ‘most beloved’ daughter Ju-ae to be his successor?
- Ju-ae has been photographed in public twice in the past nine days, fuelling debate she is being primed as successor to her father, Kim Jong-un
- One analyst believes the young girl’s appearances are linked to the North Korean leader’s bid to be perceived as a stable father figure
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Park Chan-kyongin Seoul
A potential successor, or just daddy’s little girl? That is the question being asked as North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s only daughter emerged at a high-profile event for the second time in nine days.
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The girl, believed to be Kim’s second child named Ju-ae and about nine years old, was first seen in pictures published by state media on November 19. She was shown with her parents observing the North’s intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) launch the previous day.
On Sunday, photos released by the state Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) showed her wearing a long black winter coat with her hair partially tied back, walking hand in hand with her father.
The pair took photos with scientists, officials and others involved in what was described as the test-launch of its Hwasong-17 ICBM.
KCNA described her as Kim’s “most beloved” or “precious” child, a more honorific title than her previous description of “(Kim’s) beloved” child.
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