In an interview with Focus, Prof. Rüdiger Frank examines the growing public role of Kim Jong Un’s daughter, who has been appearing more frequently at military and state events. Her visibility suggests she is being groomed for a future leadership role, although key details about her identity and status remain uncertain.

Despite speculation, no official succession has been declared. The opaque nature of North Korea’s political system makes reliable information scarce, with even basic facts about the girl disputed.

Prof. Frank highlights how power in North Korea functions like a tightly controlled family enterprise, where authority is concentrated at the very top. In this context, the daughter’s prominent appearances, including active participation in military settings, may signal more than symbolic staging, pointing instead to a deliberate effort to prepare her for a leading role within the regime.

You can find the interview in German here: LINK.