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A Woman As President?

No, not of the USA!

Of North Korea.

Recent reports of S. Korea's intelligence services thinking Kim Il Jung may be grooming his thirteen years old daughter for eventual Presidentship. There seems to have been no official announcement from the government but she has been seen with him at some official functions.

This idea has been asked for a some time now. Korean society is strongly patriarchal although both Koreas have highly-educated women in high-ranking work, even government positions.

Although a hard-line Communist country politically and economically, the Kim family has established itself as a ruling dynasty, and even coined a name for it: "Kimilsim"; but the Kims have no son to take over power.
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JimboSaturn · 56-60, M
Well is Kim II Jung says she will be president and is worthy, no one will dare speak against him or question him.
ArishMell · 70-79, M
@JimboSaturn True! Unlike China and probably Vietnam, N. Korea seems not to have a succession procedure based on any sort of selection among senior ministers, but simply a ruling family.

In that respect it's perhaps similar to Saudi Arabia but without royal trappings. It certainly can't be compared to the democratic monarchies of Europe, where the sovereign is hereditary but apolitical - a sort of Chairman, the Head of State, not the Head of Government.

Of the non-Communist nations, N. Korea is more akin to Afghanistan or Iran, with power vested in just one so-called "Supreme Leader" for life; but even these opaque dictatorships would probably pick their next rulers from loyal ministers of state or senior clerics, not relatives.

(Aghanistan seems unique in that its "Supreme Leader" keeps very much out of the limelight. He is based in Khandahar, not the capital, Kabul, and seems to stay there, rarely in the sort of public view most dictators enjoy.)

If Kim Ju Ae does become her nation's next President / Ruler, it will be interesting to see what if any reforms she introduces. Though it may be very dangerous for her personally, if she tries. Previous relatives who called for any sort of reform have been sidelined or murdered.
JimboSaturn · 56-60, M
@ArishMell I believe Kim Jung Ils father although dead as a doornail is still the Prime minister or something. It's a crazy place.
JimboSaturn · 56-60, M
I wonder if she will adopt the crazy haircut?
ArishMell · 70-79, M
@JimboSaturn "President", but with the memorial prefix, "Eternal".