North Korea | July 12, 2024
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As Radio Free Asia reported on 29 November 2023, Kim Jong Un’s daughter has acquired a new title in the state media, leading to speculation about her elevated status. Meanwhile, Kim Jong Un announced at the end of 2023 that “the two Koreas are separate ‘belligerent states’ at war”, as reported by NK News on 1 January 2024)
World Watch Research analyst Thomas Muller explains: “Kim Ju Ae, who is thought to be 10 or 11 years old, appears frequently with her father in public, leading to a flurry of speculation about whether this is happening to present her as ‘heir apparent’. She is now being referred to as the “Morning Star of North Korea” by state media, making Western observers wonder if such a title has a special meaning. On the other hand, there are statements from high-ranking officials saying that a female successor, especially when she is still young, would be ‘impossible’ (Daily NK, 14 December 2023).
Thomas Muller continues: “Kim Jong Un’s public announcement at the end of 2023 that the long-stated goal of unification is also ‘impossible’ and that the Republic of Korea is thus to be regarded as an enemy state. The fact that that the two Koreas are no longer to be regarded as compatriots (NK News, 2 January 2024) did not come as a great surprise, but was nevertheless a major shift in politics. Debates about what this could mean in practice almost immediately set in. Some observers interpreted this shift as the country preparing itself for war, a view rebutted by others (38 North, 17 January 2024). Meanwhile, the number of escapees to South Korea in 2023 tripled compared to 2022, although 196 it is still a far cry from pre-pandemic levels (NK News, 18 January 2024).”
Thomas Muller concludes: “Both examples clearly show that interpreting what comes out of Pyongyang has narrow limits and observers do well to be cautious in drawing conclusions. However, one thing seems to be certain: Shifts in politics and/or ideology are almost always followed by more insecure times and this means that all dissidents and perceived troublemakers are likely to come under particular scrutiny. This will definitely be true for Christians.”
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