Kim Jong Un chooses teen daughter as heir (bbc.com)

> News of Ju Ae's existence first emerged through an unlikely source: the American basketball player Dennis Rodman, who revealed to The Guardian newspaper back in 2013 that he "held baby Ju Ae" during a trip to the secretive state.

Man, I had forgotten all about Rodman and his North Korean antics.

That was obvious when he had her walking in front of him months ago leading the charge during some inspections. He doesn't allow anyone to do that.

Considering that the primary source is South Korea's spy agency, I think it's worth taking this news with a grain of salt. When north and south korea release news about each other it is always hard to tell which parts are factual and which parts are propaganda.

It seems odd he would announce her so early? When did he get announced as the hier to his father?

Also, I know he was Western-educated. Is the plan to send her to school in Europe?

Who knows what is true here. But, IF we assume this is true, then it would also mean he has no male heir per se. Which brings us back to the first part ... whether that is true. When Kim was young, he lived in Europe, in particular Switzerland, so perhaps some offspring also live semi under cover.

Would that make her the first woman to be a communist dictator?

This title really needs says Seoul added, as in the original article. NK has made no official announcements.

> South Korea's spy agency told lawmakers on Thursday.

Whether if this is true or not, this speculation isn't "news" unless it is 100% confirmed through various sources. The fact that the South Korea spy agency is the only (unconfirmed) source; there is only quite weak evidence to go with and it remains to be only rumors at this point.

In general, It is completely off-topic here as per the guidelines from [0]

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Never trust news about the DPRK from South Korean spy agencies. It's only a matter of months before it's proven to be nonsense. They're the ones always saying crap like "North Koreans push their trains by hand" or "Kim Jong Un claims to have invented the hamburger." Only the most brainwashed westerners buy it, but it's enough to keep the DPRK hate at a simmer.

I watched a documentary a while ago and I think it said that Kim Jong Un's sister plays a big part in maintaining the regime. I wonder if she pulled some strings in this decision to select Kim Ju Ae as heir, perhaps because she's more pliable, or under Kim Yo Jong's thumb. A North Korean patriarchal society probably wouldn't be amenable to a woman telling a male heir what to do.

How much more of his family has he had executed now?

Since it's the worst dictatorship with nuclear weapons, I guess it's going to take centuries if ever for them to fall

So much suffering there, the stories they get out are absolutely insane

And of course the nighttime lighting sat view says it all about the people vs their oligarchs

I am very surprised it was not his sister, given her prominent role in recent years on diplomacy, and the Olympics.