There's Symbolism in Kim Ju Ae's Tank Outing

South Korea's spy agency now says it has more than hunches about who might run North Korea next. Lawmakers in Seoul on Monday said the National Intelligence Service has obtained "credible intelligence" that Kim Jong Un's teenage daughter is being positioned as his successor—and that her tank-driving photo op was meant to underscore that, per Reuters. State media last month released images of Kim and the girl, believed to be about 13 and named Ju Ae, riding in a new tank. In one photo, she appears to be driving the tank, per the Korea Herald. This comes on top of earlier footage of her handling firearms alongside her father, wearing a matching leather jacket, per Sky News.

According to briefings from both ruling and opposition lawmakers, the NIS views the imagery as a deliberate echo of Kim's own choreographed military outings before he took over from his father. He was likewise seen riding in a tank, per the Herald. South Korean lawmakers see Ju Ae's increasing appearances "in defense-related sectors" as an effort to normalize the idea of a female heir. The agency has previously assessed that Ju Ae is already treated as the regime's effective No. 2. Some analysts, however, caution that the visuals alone fall short of definitive proof that Ju Ae's succession is locked in, per Reuters.