I defected from North Korea - and this is what you didn't know about Kim Jong Un's daughter

A North Korean defector tells AP about her frustration with the appearances of leader Kim Jong Un's daughter, Kim Ju Ae, who is shown with privileges not allowed to ordinary girls. Eight out of 11 defectors believe she is destined to succeed her father, and South Korean intelligence supports this assessment.

A North Korean defector named Kim Yumi, who fled with her family by boat in May 2023, tells AP about her feelings when she saw Kim Jong Un's daughter, Kim Ju Ae, appear on state television. Yumi, now 32 and living in Seoul, said the girl's appearances, shown with long hair and clothes not permitted for ordinary girls, sparked anger and a sense that her own children's future was closed off. The article brings testimonies from 11 defectors, eight of whom believe Ju Ae is destined to succeed her father. South Korean intelligence also assesses she is the most likely heir, though no official announcement has been made. A former diplomat who defected in 2016, Tae Yong-ho, explains that the treatment Ju Ae receives from senior regime officials is identical to that received by her father as heir. On the other hand, some defectors find it hard to imagine a female leader in a patriarchal society. The article notes that since 1948, the same family has ruled North Korea, and another power transfer is expected not to face open opposition due to tight control and propaganda.