Some claim that Kim Ju-ae has been chosen as Kim Jong-un’s successor. But it is premature to conclude that Kim Jong-un has selected Kim Ju-ae as his heir based on the circumstantial evidence released so far. Inside information from North Korea needs to be collected and cross-examined in order to confirm Kim Ju-ae as the successor, and this information must be irrefutable. The institutional process and practices of power succession need to be properly understood to prevent unnecessary controversy over North Korea’s 4th generation succession. Moreover, regarding the current controversy over Kim Ju-ae, there is a need to analyze what political benefits North Korea has earned through her appearances. This study will examine the institutional process and practices of North Korea’s hereditary succession and assess the political effects of Kim Ju-ae’s appearance to enhance readers’ understanding of North Korea’s 4th generation power succession, an issue that may reappear in the future.
