Dressed for succession: What Kim Ju Ae's outfits tell us about North Korea

Key developments are emerging from the global stage. Dressed for succession: What Kim Ju Ae's outfits tell us about North Korea2 hours ago Share Save Add as preferred on GoogleSangmi HanBBC News Korean, Seoul Watch: What do a teenager's clothes tell us about North Korea's future? In November 2022, a photo emerged of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un with a smartly-dressed young girl by his side - his daughter Ju Ae. Strolling alongside her father in front of a towering intercontinental ballistic missile, she wore black trousers and a white padded jacket with her long hair tied back.

Making her debut in state propaganda - she was reportedly just nine years old at the time - Ju Ae was already dressed to impress. Since then her hairstyles have become more elaborate, her attire increasingly elegant and sophisticated. South Korea's spy agency believes that Kim Jong Un has chosen her as his successor, given her rising prominence at such a young age.

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Ju Ae, now 13, has been increasingly photographed with her father, standing next to him at missile launches and military parades and even accompanying him on overseas trips. But some analysts believe that her fashion - leathers, furs, and a "rooster" hairstyle - are also signs that she is being groomed to lead the country. ReutersA photograph of Kim Ju Ae's first official appearance, with Kim Jong Un, and an intercontinental ballistic missile, was released on 19 November 2022Ju Ae's outfits are likely to be dictated by the government's Propaganda and Agitation Department.

At times, she has been seen dressed in formal suits and skirts, resembling her mother Ri Sol Ju. "As Ju Ae is still very young, her age could be seen as a potential weakness for a future leader. It appears the regime is dressing her in formal outfits similar to those worn by her mother as a way to mask her youth and project a more mature image," Sejong Institute deputy director Cheong Seong-chang tells Korean.

At other times, she has worn leather jackets, "clothing that is both strong in impression and casual" which would be suitable for visiting "relatively rough or rugged locations" such as military bases, noted Cheong. But it also has meant that she ends up twinning with her father, who is fond of wearing black leather jackets and trench coats. EPAJu Ae has on occasion been seen twinning with her father, who is fond of leather trenchesReutersJu Ae (centre, in burgundy) has been often styled to look like her mother Ri Sol Ju (left, in grey)Mirroring the fashions of previous generations, known as "image replication", is a tactic that North Korean leaders have employed to retain power.

During the early years of his leadership, Kim Jong Un sought to secure his legitimacy by dressing like his grandfather Kim Il Sung. Kim Il Sung, who founded and led North Korea for more than 45 years, is effectively seen as a deity in the country, according to experts.

The development has drawn wide international attention, with diplomatic circles watching closely.