Who will be the next leader in North Korea?

Few political observers predicted Kim Jong-un’s daughter Ju-ae would be his likely successor when she made her first public appearance in November 2022. At the time, the elder Kim’s sister Yo-jong appeared to be a more likely heir apparent. But more than a year later, Ju-ae has become a constant presence at large-scale events, appearing at everything from missile launches to military parades. Her growing profile has forced the question: is Kim Ju-ae next in line to rule North Korea and become the reclusive state’s first female leader?