Like gods reigning over humans': Many defectors see daughter of North Korea's Kim as heir apparent

A group of North Korean defectors told The Associated Press that Kim Jong Un’s teenage daughter—publicly appearing with him for years—may be the apparent heir to a third dynastic transfer of power. AP interviews in South Korea, including with Kim Yumi, a 32-year-old defector who fled by boat three years ago, describe how dissent is punished and hereditary succession has historically been accepted publicly. Kim Yumi said North Korea’s fourth-generation dictatorship and strict pandemic rules that harmed her family’s fishing business pushed her to escape. Analysts, the spy agency in South Korea, and eight of 11 defectors interviewed largely agree she is being groomed, though others question it due to patriarchal culture. The daughter, reportedly about 13 and named Kim Ju Ae, has made dozens of state appearances since late 2022.