"If Kim Ju Ae Is Officially Named Successor, Her Ruthless Aunt Kim Yo Jong Could Trigger Bloodshed"

[Financial News] Ra Jong-yil, a distinguished professor at Dongguk University who previously served as ambassador to Japan and the United Kingdom, has warned that bloodshed could occur if North Korean leader Kim Jong Un officially designates his daughter Kim Ju Ae as his successor. Observers say her aunt Kim Yo Jong, an ambitious vice department director of the Workers’ Party of Korea, would inevitably clash with her niece.
Ra Jong-yil, a former first deputy director of the National Intelligence Service (NIS) and now a distinguished professor at Dongguk University, said in an interview with The Telegraph on the 14th, "If Kim Ju Ae is to follow in her father’s footsteps, she could face strong checks from her ambitious and ruthless aunt Kim Yo Jong."
He added, "If Kim Yo Jong comes to believe that her chance to become the supreme leader has arrived, she will not hesitate to seize it," and predicted, "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."
Earlier, on the 12th, the National Intelligence Service reported to the National Assembly Intelligence Committee that, "In the past, we described Kim Ju Ae as undergoing successor training, but we now assess that she is in the ‘pre-designation stage’ as heir."
The NIS also stated, "Considering her attendance at military-related events such as Air Force Day ceremonies, her visits to the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun, a symbol of hereditary succession, and the fact that she offers opinions on certain policies during on-site inspections, we judge that the process has moved from successor training to the stage where she is effectively being designated as heir."
Regarding North Korea’s 9th Congress of the Workers’ Party of Korea, the agency said, "The expected date for convening the congress includes February 16, Kim Jong Il’s birthday, and it is highly likely to be held after the Lunar New Year holiday. It is expected to run for about seven days as an internal event without foreign delegations."
The Telegraph also reported that Kim Yo Jong has already secured a substantial support base within the Workers’ Party of Korea and the military. She is effectively regarded as the second most powerful figure in North Korea. The outlet noted that if Kim Jong Un dies or becomes unable to perform his duties normally, there is speculation that Kim Yo Jong could move to seize power.
The Telegraph pointed to precedents in which North Korea’s ruling family did not hesitate to eliminate political rivals. It said that if future power struggles intensify, the situation could escalate into bloodshed. Kim Jong Un had his uncle Jang Song Thaek executed in the early years of his rule. His half-brother Kim Jong Nam is also believed to have been assassinated overseas.
The paper further reported that speculation about Kim Jong Un’s health is seen as one reason he is rushing to establish a succession plan, even though he is only in his early 40s. Kim has long been rumored to suffer from excessive drinking and smoking, as well as diabetes and high blood pressure. His father Kim Jong Il experienced similar health problems and ultimately died of a heart attack.
mj@fnnews.com Park Moon-soo Reporter