Kim Jong Un's Daughter Personally Drives Tank; South Korean Intelligence: Building Succession Narrative

Reuters reported that North Korean state media, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), released photos last month showing Kim Jong Un and his daughter, Kim Ju Ae, driving a new type of tank. North Korean state media had previously published images of Kim Ju Ae firing at a shooting range and using a handgun.

South Korean lawmakers noted that the National Intelligence Service (NIS) stated that the images of Kim Ju Ae driving a tank are intended to highlight her so-called military qualifications and dispel external doubts about a female successor.

Furthermore, South Korean lawmakers, citing the NIS, pointed out that Kim Ju Ae has attended defense-related events multiple times, aiming to alleviate external questions about a female successor and accelerate the establishment of a succession narrative.

However, some experts on North Korean issues warn against interpreting these images as clear signals of succession.

Hong Min, an analyst at the Korea Institute for National Unification (KINU), noted that the images of Kim Ju Ae driving a tank alone are insufficient to conclude that she has been confirmed as Kim Jong Un's successor.

Hong Min also mentioned that when Kim Jong Un was being groomed as a successor, he appeared alone at military events, but Kim Ju Ae has appeared with her father, not independently. (Compiled by Chen Cheng-Chien) 1150406