Kim Ju-ae, Is She Really a Crown Princess?…appeared first on It’s a North Korean holiday

Kim Ju-ae sits next to Chairman Kim Jong-un, who is waving with a broad smile at the parade celebrating the 75th anniversary of the establishment of the North Korean regime (9·9 Festival) at Kim Il-sung Square in Pyongyang on September 9. Park Jung-cheon, the party’s military affairs director, is whispering in her ear while kneeling. ⓒKorean Central News Agency·Newsis

North Korea has designated November 18, the day they test-fired the intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) ‘Hwasong-17’, as ‘Missile Industry Day.’ Notably, November 18 is also the day when Kim Jong-un’s daughter, Ju-ae, made her first official appearance. This has led to speculation that this move may be considering the possibility of Ju-ae being designated as the successor.

The Rodong Sinmun reported on the 5th that the Standing Committee of the Supreme People’s Assembly of North Korea held an executive meeting and unanimously adopted the issue of establishing ‘Missile Industry Day’.

The newspaper stated, “The establishment of ‘Missile Industry Day’ records November 18, 2022, when the prestige of the world’s nuclear powerhouse and the strongest intercontinental ballistic missile-holding country was demonstrated, as a historic day of significant changes in our style of national defense development.” It added, “It is an expression of the unshakeable will of the Workers’ Party of Korea and the government of the Republic, and all the people of the country, to further strengthen our country’s tremendous national power.”

The designated commemorative day, November 18, is the day when North Korea fired the intercontinental ballistic missile Hwasong-17 into the East Sea at an almost right angle to reduce the flight distance last year.

There are observations that military provocations such as the third reconnaissance satellite launch may occur around this designated commemorative day to showcase missile launch technology.

The Ministry of Unification believes that the designation of ‘Missile Industry Day’ on the 18th is not unrelated to the appearance of Kim Jong-un’s daughter, Kim Ju-ae.

Minister of Unification Kim Young-ho said in a meeting with reporters on the afternoon of the 6th, marking his 100th day in office, “There is an intention to assign significance to November 18, the day when Kim Ju-ae first appeared (on the official stage).”

He added, “We cannot exclude the possibility that Kim Ju-ae will become (Kim Jong-un’s) successor. Ultimately, Kim Jong-un continues to bring out Kim Ju-ae to show his intention to pass on power both inside and outside (the country). And the emphasis on the intention to pass on power means that the internal situation in North Korea is not good.”

Minister Kim has previously stated in last month’s National Assembly Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee’s government audit that “we cannot rule out the possibility” of Kim Ju-ae being a possible successor.

Ministry of Unification spokesperson Goo Byung-sam criticized North Korea’s move to designate ‘Missile Industry Day’ at a regular briefing on the day, saying, “We cannot but express disappointment and outrage at North Korea’s behavior trying to commemorate an act that blatantly violates international norms such as the UN Security Council resolution prohibiting missile development, threatening not only South Korea but also the international community.”