ⓒ JoongAng Ilbo / JoongAng Ilbo Japanese version2023.04.19 16:55
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un holding a cigarette in his hand and Kim Jong-un’s daughter Joo-ae holding a matchbox with both hands can be seen during the inspection and on-site guidance of the National Space Development Agency on the 18th. Caught. This was reminiscent of Kim Yo-jong’s younger sister, Kim Yo-jong, who acted as Kim Jong-un’s ‘ashtray clerk’ in 2019.
Rodong Sinmun, the official newspaper of the Workers’ Party of Korea, reported on the 19th that Kim Jong-un and his daughter Joo-ae visited the nation’s space-development nation the day before and gave on-site guidance. On the front page of the newspaper was a photo of her mother and daughter walking side by side.
Combining photos from Korean Central Television and Rodong Sinmun, it is presumed that this is the match that was placed on the desk when Kim Jong-un received a briefing from a senior official. Korean Central Television released only a photo of the object placed in front of Kim Jong-un as he was being briefed, but Rodong Sinmun released an ashtray next to it and Kim smoking in the same scene.
This scene was reminiscent of Kim Yo-Jong Party’s “Ashtray Clerk”. Kim Jong-un smokes outside the train as he and his party rest at a train station in China as they travel to Hanoi, Vietnam, for the second U.S.-North Korea summit in February 2019. Deputy Director Kim is shown standing with an ashtray.
It is difficult to know exactly why the North Korean media released the “matchbox” scene that day, but some speculate that Joo Ae may accompany Chairman Kim. However, there is also the interpretation that it is unreasonable to see the position of Mr. Joo Ae, who is a direct descendant of Chairman Kim Jong-un and the possibility of a “successor” recently, and his sister Mr. Yo Jong in the same way.
On the other hand, the National Space Development Agency, which Chairman Kim visited the day before, is called the “North Korean version of NASA.” newly established. This year marks the 10th anniversary of its founding, and in February 2016, it led the launch of Kwangmyongsong-4, an “earth observation satellite.” Kim Jong-un has shown a particular interest in space development, as he visited on March 18 for the first time in a year following his visit last March.
