Everything we know about Kim Jong Un’s heir who was ‘cradled by Dennis Rodman’

South Korean intelligence confirmed earlier this week that Kim Jong Un has officially named his daughter, Kim Ju-ae, as the person who will inherit the Pyongyang codes

Kim Jong Un has confirmed who will take the North Korean reins when he eventually croaks – his 13-year-old daughter. No danger of putting it to the polls then, Mr. Un?

South Korea’s spy agency claimed the despot has officially named his Mini Me (sorry, we meant daughter), Kim Ju-ae. The teen has appeared alongside her father in various public outings for the last few years, so it’s no massive surprise that she is now in line to sit in Ryongsong Residence in Pyongyang.

If Ju-ae junior did take over from her father, she would be the fourth generation of their family to rule the country since the communist Workers’ Party seized power with the help of the Soviet Union in 1948. But what do we actually know about Lil Kim*? Apart from that, in heels, she is taller than her dad?

Calling the shots

It has been widely speculated that Ju-ae might already be involved on an executive level, with her attendance at high-profile meetings alongside her father reported.

At most public events, the 13-year-old is seen walking alongside her father and not behind him – something which signifies power in North Korean media.

Do we think she’s actually deciding which enemies of the state are getting fired out of a cannon on a daily basis? No we’re not suggesting that – but she’s definitely not living the life of a normal teenage girl, and there is the impression that Kim senior is “training” her in the ways of a dictator.

Swaddled by the Rod

The west only got to know of Ju-ae’s existence after the bizarre peacekeeping trip from NBA legend Dennis Rodman in 2013. Sorry, what?

Yes – the eccentric Rodman visited the country several times to engage in what he termed “basketball diplomacy”, after Kim Jong Un specifically requested him, being a massive Chicago Bulls fan and all, obviously.

After one of these trips, Rodman reported that he had met the whole family and held in his arms Kim’s baby girl, Ju-ae. Intelligence services believe this is the same girl we’ve seen parading alongside Kim Jong Un.

Mystery brother

Intelligence also believes Ju-ae is the second child of three, with an older brother and a younger sibling of so far undetermined sex, neither of whose names are known.

Despite North Korea being an incredibly patriarchal society, up until now Kim Jong Un’s only successors have been female. Before Ju-ae’s coming of age, it was widely understood that Jong Un’s sister would take over.

Seoul view

South Korea’s politicians are obviously keeping a close eye on proceedings. After the National Intelligence Service (NIS) told MPs in Seoul of its assessment, several South Korean MPs told the press what had happened in the briefing.

“In the past, the NIS described Kim Ju-ae as being ‘in study as successor’ but today the expression used was that she ‘was in the stage of being internally appointed successor’,” Lee Seong-kweun, an MP, said after the private briefing.

He added: “Kim Ju-ae has shown her presence at various events, including the founding anniversary of the Korean People’s Army and her visit to the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun, and signs have been detected of her voicing her opinion on certain state policies, the NIS believes she has now entered the stage of being designated as successor.”

*Not the rapper.