"If Kim Ju Ae Is Officially Named Successor, a Power Struggle With Aunt Kim Yo Jong Is Possible"

There is a growing view that if North Korean President of the State Affairs Commission Kim Jong Un officially names his daughter Kim Ju Ae as his successor, she could face a power struggle with her aunt, Kim Yo Jong, a senior official of the Workers' Party of Korea.
Ra Jong-yil, a former first deputy director of the National Intelligence Service (NIS) and now a distinguished professor at Dongguk University who previously served as ambassador to Japan and the United Kingdom, said in an interview with The Telegraph on the 14th (local time), "If Kim Ju Ae succeeds her father, she could face strong checks from her ambitious and ruthless aunt, Kim Yo Jong."
Ra assessed that a struggle between Kim Ju Ae and Kim Yo Jong is highly likely. He said, "If Kim Yo Jong judges that her chance has come to become the supreme leader, she will not hesitate to seize it," adding, "From Kim Yo Jong's perspective, there is no reason to hold back from pursuing her political ambitions, so the likelihood of a power struggle is high."
The Telegraph predicted that if Kim Jong Un dies or becomes unable to perform his duties, Kim Yo Jong could attempt to seize power. Citing past purges under Kim Jong Un, including the assassination of his half-brother Kim Jong Nam and the execution of his uncle Jang Song Thaek, the paper even raised the possibility that any power struggle could turn bloody.
The report also stressed that Kim Yo Jong is believed to have built a substantial support base within both the Workers' Party of Korea and the military, effectively making her the second most powerful figure in North Korea. While Kim Ju Ae has recently appeared frequently at official events alongside Kim Jong Un, seemingly undergoing training as his successor, the article pointed out that her early-teen age leaves her with a weak political base.
The Telegraph suggested that persistent rumors about Kim Jong Un's health may be one reason he is rushing to establish a succession structure for Kim Ju Ae, despite being relatively young himself, in his early 40s.
Earlier, on the 12th, the National Intelligence Service reported to the National Assembly that Kim Ju Ae is considered to be at the stage of being designated as Kim Jong Un's successor.
theknight@fnnews.com Jung Kyung-soo Reporter