"Pink Fur Kim Ju Ae, North Korea's MZ Generation Shows Tremendous Rebelliousness"... 'Outrage' Over a Peer Inspecting a Military Base Wearing Sunglasses

[Financial News] Testimony from a North Korean defector indicates that resentment is spreading among the youth as North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's moves to position his daughter, Kim Ju Ae, as his successor become increasingly evident. This is due to the stark contrast between Kim Ju Ae's appearances at official events dressed in designer clothes and the lifestyle of ordinary residents.
According to the YouTube channel 'Jo Han-beom TV' on the 14th, Ryu Seong-hyeon, a defector and former North Korean military officer, appeared on the channel on the 11th and shared his views on Kim Ju Ae's public activities and public sentiment within North Korea.
Ryu explained that while Kim Ju Ae's first appearances accompanying Chairman Kim were viewed as a simple father-daughter joint appearance, her recent moves are believed to be aimed at establishing a succession structure.
Ryu viewed Kim Ju Ae's rise as a successor positively. He said, "I actually think it is fortunate that Kim Ju Ae has become the successor," adding, "There is a high possibility that changes will occur in North Korea, and there is a higher possibility of a power struggle than with a man."
He added, "If Kim Ju Ae firmly seizes power, I believe women have an advantage over men in inter-Korean relations and cooperation."
Ryu explained that North Korea's youth are also keeping a close eye on Kim Ju Ae. However, he said that North Korea's MZ generation "actually has tremendous rebelliousness" toward Kim Ju Ae.
When asked if it was because the younger generation was awake, Ryu flatly replied, "No. This is a contradiction of the system."
According to Ryu, North Korean children are taught to say, "Thank you, Marshal Kim Jong Un, our revered father," from the moment they enter daycare. However, the fact that Kim Jong Un is taught as the father of all children while showing favoritism toward his own daughter is fueling backlash.
He said, "Even among siblings, if you only favor the first and second children, the youngest gets jealous," adding, "They are always out weeding fields and participating in labor, but if a child of a similar age goes around the airfield wearing sunglasses, adult men and women of the same age become completely enraged."
However, Ryu predicted that the North Korean regime would not easily collapse without external intervention, noting that most young people with such resentment are "likely to live as ordinary citizens at the bottom." He explained that North Korea is designed to maintain the regime while thoroughly suppressing individuals, so the system will persist for a considerable period unless an external spark ignites it.
Kim Ju Ae made her first official public appearance in November 2022 at the site of the Hwasong-17 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) test launch. Kim Ju Ae, who was reportedly around nine years old at the time, was dressed in a white padded jacket and black pants.
Since then, Kim Ju Ae has repeatedly appeared in outfits rarely seen by ordinary North Korean residents, such as high-end leather jackets and fur coats. In December 2023, she attended an ICBM launch site with Chairman Kim wearing a pink fur coat. Last year, she also attended an Air Force event wearing a leather coat and sunglasses from an Italian luxury brand.
Earlier in May, the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) analyzed that Kim Ju Ae's attire could be a propaganda device intended to portray the young successor as a mature and strong leader, while simultaneously revealing a privileged status distinct from ordinary residents.
The National Intelligence Service (NIS) also assessed during its briefing to the National Assembly Intelligence Committee on the 1st that Kim Ju Ae had effectively entered the stage of being designated as the successor. Regarding Kim Ju Ae's frequent appearances in the media, the NIS analyzed that the succession structure was entering a stage of entrenchment, stating that "the primary purpose is to imprint her position as a leader on the North Korean people."

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