Kim Jong-un Brings Daughter to Military Banquet

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un brought his daughter Ju-ae to a lavish banquet celebrating the 75th anniversary of the North's Korean People's Army on Wednesday. 

State media referred to Kim Ju-ae as the leader's "respected" daughter. She had previously been referred to as "beloved" or "precious." 

They also published a photo of Ju-ae seated between her father and mother, Ri Sol-ju and surrounded by top brass. 

The girl first appeared with her father at the launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile last November and also popped up at an event celebrating the launch and at a missile factory. 

The official Rodong Sinmun daily did not mention Ri by name. She is seen with a necklace in the shape of a missile.  

There are mixed views on whether Ju-ae has been tapped as her father's successor. One intelligence source said, "It is too early to consider Kim Ju-ae, who is barely 10 years old, as the successor. He's probably bringing her to military events in a message to top brass to be loyal even to his children." 

Other pundits believe Kim is using his young daughter as a prop to endear himself to an increasingly disgruntled population suffering years of international sanctions and border closures due to the coronavirus pandemic.