In a significant development, North Korea appears to be laying the groundwork for a potentially imminent leadership transition. Recent reports indicate that North Korea’s current leader, Kim Jong-un, is facing severe health challenges related to obesity, prompting his regime to even seek medical assistance from abroad. Despite previous speculations suggesting that Kim Ju-ae is the likely heir to her father’s throne, the timing of these events and Kim’s willingness to risk exposing his secretive health conditions to seek foreign help hint the desperate need to push for succession earlier than expected.

KIM JONG-UN'S DECLINING HEALTH

The North Korean leader, who is speculated to be 40 years old, has long been known for his heavy drinking and smoking habits. These lifestyle choices, combined with a family history of heart disease, have exacerbated Kim’s own health issues. South Korean intelligence agencies have reported that Kim is suffering from high blood pressure and diabetes, conditions that are difficult to manage with the medical resources available in North Korea.

In recent months, Kim’s weight has reportedly skyrocketed to his heaviest ever at around 308 pounds (140 kilograms), placing him at high risk of heart disease, especially when he has been showing signs of high blood pressure and diabetes since his early 30’s. The agency added that, in addition to the leader’s risky habits, his health issues are likely a result of stress. If left untreated, the current leader’s conditions could shadow that of both his grandfather and father, who had died from cardiovascular diseases. This alarming situation has led North Korean officials to search for "alternative medical substances” overseas, highlighting the severity of his health problems that can neither be treated immediately nor internally.

PREPARING FOR SUCCESSION

Since Kim has not formally anointed a successor to his reclusive kingdom, his health remains a top concern to his people as the potential leadership transition carries significant implications on the direction of the regime’s ruling that could lead to shifts in the nation’s domestic and foreign policies. However, it is widely reported that Kim’s “beloved” daughter, Ju-ae, began to receive lessons to prepare her for succession amidst being increasingly visible in public appearances, especially during important nationwide military events. As a result, many believe that Ju-ae is set to take over the reins of North Korea in the near future. 

Ju-ae is estimated to be between 10 and 12 years old. Despite this tender age, North Korea has repeatedly put forward that she is a strong candidate and referred her to as a “great person of guidance” (or “hyangdo” in Korean that is a term typically reserved for a leader or successor) by the North’s state media in an attempt to ensure a smooth transition of power and maintain the stability of the regime in the event of Kim’s incapacitation. Analysts also suggest that Ju-ae's frequent presence at significant state functions was meant to either silence rivalries inside Pyongyang or present the Kim family in the style of a monarchy, as the current leader had himself inherited his position from his late father, Kim Jong-il, the son of North Korea’s founder, Kim Il-sung.

As North Korea navigates this critical juncture, the world continues to closely monitor Kim’s health and the potential rise of Ju-ae to power, which could mark a pivotal moment in the nation’s history that would significantly impact its relations with key players such as the U.S., South Korea and China in light of Kim’s ongoing nuclear ambitions.