[Global NK Commentary] The Meaning and Implications of Kim Jong-un's Young Daughter, Kim Ju-ae's Appearance

Debate continues regarding the possibility of North Korea's fourth hereditary succession. When Kim Jong-un appeared with his daughter Kim Ju-ae, some experts diagnosed it as the designation of a successor or, noting that the location of Kim Ju-ae's public appearance was the test site of the new intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) 'Hwasong-17,' interpreted it as an attempt to maximize the value of nuclear weapons and attract international attention. There are also analyses suggesting that Kim Ju-ae's frequent appearances are due to power struggles between Ri Sol-ju and Kim Yo-jong. While various interpretations are possible given the unprecedented exposure of a ruler's young daughter, it is necessary to examine the phenomenon within the context of governance hidden behind Kim Ju-ae's appearance and activities, rather than focusing solely on them.

Kim Jong-un's leadership requires a certain magnitude and intensity of power, and a high level of so-called greatness (including the authority system). Kim Jong-un, who became ruler in his twenties, has seized and consolidated all institutional power by ascending to the highest positions in the party, state, and military over his ten years in power. In terms of the authority system, Kim Jong-un, who is approaching 40, attempts to solidify his position as the 'Great Father of the People' and secure absolute influence in North Korean society, which is heavily imbued with Confucian culture, by featuring his young daughter. In the early 1990s, when its legitimacy was denied due to the collapse of the communist bloc and social anxiety was high, North Korea promoted the 'Great Socialist Family Theory' to foster unity, advocating for living under a great father. This is because the Confucian notion that a father loves and trusts his children unconditionally, and children do not blame their parents or betray them in difficult times, was recognized as having a stronger binding force than ideology.

While Kim Jong-un has consistently engaged in political propaganda to elevate himself to the status of 'father,' he has recently accelerated the symbolic manipulation of this image. By introducing a vertical relationship where the leader dedicates himself to the people, the people offer 'loyalty' (忠誠), and additionally, the father loves his children, and the children offer 'filial piety' (孝城) to the father, he is further strengthening his absolute dominance. The intention behind Kim Jong-un's appearance with his young daughter, Kim Ju-ae, is to utilize her as a model of filial piety.

According to the Ministry of Unification, the title 'Suryong' (Leader) for Kim Jong-un was used 26 times by July of this year, a significant increase compared to 23 times in 2022 and 16 times in 2021. Furthermore, the title 'Eoboi' (Father), used in conjunction with 'Suryong,' expanded its target from children to youth by the end of last year. The singular title 'Suryongnim' is exclusively applied to Kim Il-sung, who is designated as the founder of the ideology and the founding father of the nation. Concepts such as 'Great Leader' and 'Leader's Guidance' encompass Kim Il-sung, Kim Jong-il, and Kim Jong-un. However, the singular title 'Suryongnim' is not used for Kim Jong-il or Kim Jong-un; they are distinguished as 'Yongdoja' (Leader). When North Korean residents refer to 'Eoboi Suryong,' they associate it with Kim Il-sung, thus Kim Jong-un is establishing absolute authority as a father by equating himself with Suryong Kim Il-sung.

On November 18 last year, Kim Jong-un's visit to the test site of the ICBM 'Hwasong-17,' touted as his greatest achievement and drawing global attention, was revealed the following day in the Rodong Sinmun. The newspaper's front page featured a photo of Kim Jong-un directing the ICBM launch, the second page showed Kim Jong-un holding hands with his daughter Kim Ju-ae, and the third page displayed Kim Jong-un, Ri Sol-ju, and Kim Ju-ae together. The layout of these pages indicates a focus on the relationship between father and child, centered around Kim Jong-un, with the intention of presenting a model of a unified family. On February 8, at the military parade celebrating the founding of the Korean People's Army, Kim Jong-un appeared with his daughter Kim Ju-ae holding her hand, accompanied by his wife Ri Sol-ju. The day before, at a party for military generals, Kim Ju-ae sat between the couple, drawing attention, and during the parade, intimate conversations and physical contact between the father and daughter in the VIP section were highlighted. Amidst intense domestic and international focus, the daughter was maximally utilized to portray Kim Jong-un's warm image, a daughter seeking her father's affection, and Ri Sol-ju's composed loyalty, staged as a 'unified family' model. This foreshadows the establishment of a 'Great Socialist Family' order in North Korean society, with Kim Jong-un as its father.

In the past, Kim Jong-il served as a model of loyalty to the Leader when he was designated as the successor, and in the early 1990s, he became a model of filial piety towards the Father. Kim Jong-il's loyalty and filial piety were extended to the people, playing a decisive role in deifying Kim Il-sung. It appears that Kim Jong-un also believes he needs a figure to embody loyalty and filial piety today. However, as Kim Jong-un ascended to supreme leadership at a young age, it is difficult to establish a structure similar to the past where a successor generation could fulfill such a role. While his younger sister, Kim Yo-jong, has served as a model of loyalty to Kim Jong-un in propaganda and external affairs, her role as a sibling has logical limitations in elevating Kim Jong-un as a father. Therefore, Kim Jong-un's objective in featuring his daughter Kim Ju-ae is to solidify his position as the most stable 'Father of the People.'

Psychologically, humans tend to rely on the absolute existence of a father figure when society is most unstable and uncertain, seeking a god-like presence. In this vein, Kim Jong-un is attempting to expand a new domain of authority by constructing a fatherly image, thereby attempting to rebuild social order. The current disorder and instability in North Korean society can be inferred from the contents of recently adopted laws such as the State Secrets Protection Law (2023), the State Symbols Law (2023), and the Pyongyang Cultural Language Protection Law (2023). In such times, Kim Jong-un seeks to further strengthen the 'domination and obedience' system by introducing a new order of 'filial piety' to the people's 'loyalty' towards him. This endeavor also represents the process of North Korea becoming Kim Jong-un's private domain.

In North Korea, when emphasizing ideology, it is stressed that while parents give physical life, the Leader gives political life, thus one must be loyal and filial to the Father Leader. In the past, just as Kim Jong-il was loyal and filial to Kim Il-sung, the Father of the 'Great Socialist Family,' Kim Ju-ae, who is currently receiving media attention, may play a partial role in 'filial piety,' but she is far from being a successor. This is because, in a North Korean society rife with patriarchal Confucian culture, the limitations for a woman like Kim Ju-ae to inherit power are too great. Even if succession were to occur through Kim Ju-ae, there is a high probability that in the next generation, power would be inherited by a bloodline with a different surname, not from the Paektu Bloodline. This would signify the end of the Kim dynasty, making the selection of a daughter as successor unlikely. Therefore, Kim Ju-ae's appearance is merely a tool necessary for strengthening Kim Jong-un's leadership.

While there are undoubtedly various political objectives behind Kim Ju-ae's appearance in North Korea, such as promoting nuclear armament, guaranteeing the safety of the 'future generation,' and legitimizing the fourth hereditary succession, the intention appears to be largely focused on emphasizing the image of a benevolent father of a socialist great family embracing millions of children, through Kim Jong-un's portrayal of receiving filial piety from his young daughter. Kim Jong-un, who dreams of a return to the era of Kim Il-sung, seeks to replicate the loyalty and filial piety of the people from that era in the present day. However, given that North Korean residents have experienced marketization for over twenty years and are responsible for their own livelihoods, it remains uncertain how much loyalty and filial piety they will offer to the so-called 'father' Kim Jong-un.

Kim Jong-un described North Korea's difficult situation last year as a 'great upheaval since the founding of the nation.' Kim Jong-un's decision to bring his underage daughter onto the political stage, drawing public attention, stems from a desperation to respond to domestic and international challenges. This desperation is aimed at stabilizing the Kim Jong-un regime, and Kim Ju-ae's appearance offers several implications.

First, Kim Ju-ae's appearance will further deepen the deification of the Paektu Bloodline. North Korean media has referred to Kim Ju-ae as 'beloved child,' 'esteemed child,' and 'respected child.' Kim Ju-ae will likely play a significant role in idolizing the Paektu Bloodline through extensive exposure and accompanying Kim Jong-un in various settings. This poses a serious problem, further strengthening the hereditary and dictatorial nature of the North Korean regime.

Second, it will enhance the poor political environment of North Korean society and the false consciousness of its residents. Kim Jong-un, who inherited the power of his grandfather and father, is attempting to elevate the authority of the great father by featuring his daughter. In this process, through information monopoly, selective dissemination, and repetitive education, North Korean residents will develop a consciousness and attitude of self-subordination within a 'unified great family.' Individual dignity and value will cease to exist, and a false consciousness will be ingrained, recognizing only Kim Jong-un and the Paektu Bloodline within the framework of totalitarianism. Therefore, various measures are needed to encourage interest and openness that will lead North Korea to share universal values and become a member of the international community.

Third, through Kim Ju-ae's frequent appearances at ICBM launch sites and military events, it has been emphasized that 'nuclear weapons and bloodline' are like two sides of the same coin (regime). Since Kim Yo-jong's statement in August last year that 'nuclear weapons are our national identity (state system),' North Korea adopted a nuclear doctrine law in September, asserting the right to preemptive use, including the use of nuclear weapons. This series of events signifies that there is no intention of abandoning nuclear weapons. Ultimately, denuclearization of North Korea would mean the collapse of the Paektu Bloodline. This highlights the need for a strong international response towards North Korea's denuclearization.

These implications reveal that Kim Ju-ae's appearance is linked to various issues in North Korea. While North Korea symbolizes a specific bloodline and individual, its members, on the other hand, suffer human rights abuses within the collective, 'our-style' (North Korean-style) framework. The nuclear issue, possessed by such an abnormal state, has become a serious threat that creates anxiety for neighboring countries and the international community. It is time to address North Korea's nuclear and human rights issues in parallel.

■ Choi Kyung-hee, Director of SAND Research Institute.

■ Editor:Park Ji-soo, EAI Research Fellow

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