this post was submitted on 12 Feb 2026
141 points (99.3% liked)

World News

53706 readers
1902 users here now

A community for discussing events around the World

Rules:

Similarly, if you see posts along these lines, do not engage. Report them, block them, and live a happier life than they do. We see too many slapfights that boil down to "Mom! He's bugging me!" and "I'm not touching you!" Going forward, slapfights will result in removed comments and temp bans to cool off.

We ask that the users report any comment or post that violate the rules, to use critical thinking when reading, posting or commenting. Users that post off-topic spam, advocate violence, have multiple comments or posts removed, weaponize reports or violate the code of conduct will be banned.

All posts and comments will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. This means that some content that violates the rules may be allowed, while other content that does not violate the rules may be removed. The moderators retain the right to remove any content and ban users.


Lemmy World Partners

News !news@lemmy.world

Politics !politics@lemmy.world

World Politics !globalpolitics@lemmy.world


Recommendations

For Firefox users, there is media bias / propaganda / fact check plugin.

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/media-bias-fact-check/

founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
 

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has selected his daughter as his heir, South Korea's spy agency told lawmakers on Thursday.

Kim Ju Ae - who is believed to be 13 - has in recent months been pictured beside her father in high-profile events like a visit to Beijing in September, her first known trip abroad.

The National Intelligence Service (NIS) said it took a "range of circumstances" into account including her increasingly prominent public presence at official events" in making this assessment.

top 37 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] Formfiller@lemmy.world 1 points 2 hours ago* (last edited 2 hours ago)

I was hoping the era of women leaders was going to be a little less fascist. Does anyone have a link to the article not behind a paywall?

[–] Donebrach@lemmy.world 2 points 4 hours ago

Let’s hope they don’t secretly have the protomolecule sample.

[–] Voroxpete@sh.itjust.works 52 points 13 hours ago (2 children)

Diversity win! This up and coming dictator is a young woman!

[–] Fleur_@aussie.zone 4 points 8 hours ago

We are about to see some of the most effective utiliseations of girl power in history

[–] Chippys_mittens@lemmy.world 53 points 14 hours ago (3 children)

His sister is gonna coup that shit up.

[–] gigachad@piefed.social 9 points 11 hours ago* (last edited 11 hours ago)

Or she is going to get executed

[–] otter@lemmy.dbzer0.com 13 points 14 hours ago* (last edited 13 hours ago) (2 children)

As she's then effectively getting in line, would that be a coup queue? Seems to track for NoKo. 🤪

Kinda makes me wish one of them thought screaming was singing, then we could dub them "NoKo Oh-No".

FWIW, the other thread I was fiddling with mentally was re: the term "chuffed" and its implied verb "to chuff" to create this headline: "Coup queue for NoKo chuff" 🤣

[–] meejle@lemmy.world 1 points 7 hours ago (1 children)
[–] otter@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 5 hours ago

If the "p" is silent, is it also a homonym?

[–] thenextguy@lemmy.world 11 points 13 hours ago (1 children)

I hope she doesn’t get a cold, otherwise that would be a ‘coup queue cachoo’.

[–] Grass@sh.itjust.works 3 points 9 hours ago (1 children)
[–] egrets@lemmy.world 2 points 6 hours ago

Sorry, we've already assigned you the role of eggman.

[–] UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world 5 points 12 hours ago

The National Intelligence Service (NIS) said it took a “range of circumstances” into account including her increasingly prominent public presence at official events" in making this assessment.

Coup what shit? This speculation seven layers deep.

[–] ugandan_airways@lemmy.zip 26 points 14 hours ago (6 children)

He looks like shit for being in his early 40s. I wonder if there is something going on with his health and that’s why he is appointing a 13 year old heir. The article doesn’t elaborate on that but it says he “appears young and healthy.” He looks like he is about to pop. I don’t think I’d describe him as young or healthy looking.

[–] green_red_black@slrpnk.net 18 points 14 hours ago (1 children)

Kim isn’t in the best of shape but he isn’t at Donald Trump levels of poor health. As for naming his daughter the heir to the throne it could be she is the only legitimate child he has. In terms of male relatives the only one of the Kim family that is not as old or older than him (and not dead) is Kim Han Sol, and if anyone is paying attention it’s obvious why he isn’t getting the throne

[–] ugandan_airways@lemmy.zip 16 points 14 hours ago (1 children)

He’s almost 40 years younger than Trump, so I don’t think it’s comparable. I’m the same age as Kim and I know no one who is in as bad as shape as him (maybe one or two co-workers who are morbidly obese). There is nothing healthy about being 5’3” and 275 lbs.

[–] green_red_black@slrpnk.net 7 points 14 hours ago* (last edited 14 hours ago) (1 children)

Yes but it’s not “dude is going to croak any day now.”

Even more so as his status and position gives him access to the best medical care

[–] ugandan_airways@lemmy.zip 8 points 14 hours ago (1 children)

I don’t know. Heart attacks are a real thing. Your 40s get weird with health stuff. I agree that I don’t think he is going to croak any day now, but it does seem like they are preparing for him to be gone. His father only lived to 60.

[–] green_red_black@slrpnk.net 4 points 13 hours ago

I don’t dispute in having a successor prepared for when the time comes. It’s just that for a monarchy it’s good policy to have an heir ready in the wings, otherwise you get a lovely power struggle.

In this case it would be between factions of the ruling elite that are die hard cultists and factions that didn’t drink the kool-aid and just want to stay in power.

Normally a population opposition would also be in the mix but unlike Venezuela and Iran NK seems to have taken care of that

[–] RalfWausE@feddit.org 7 points 14 hours ago (1 children)

Look what Obama looked like when he entered office and how he looked when he left. And i bet being at the top of North Korea, surrounded by people who whould absolutely love to acquire your position by all means would be.... well... a bit more stressful.

[–] UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world 7 points 12 hours ago* (last edited 12 hours ago)

surrounded by people who whould absolutely love to acquire your position by all means

You think the third generational decedent of a national hero is going to be toppled by his most fiercely loyal family friends?

If the Kim family could have been pushed out by coup within the military, the CIA would have financed that shit 40 years ago.

[–] Notyou@sopuli.xyz 2 points 11 hours ago

I read a news article about that mentioned he was thrusted into power in his 20s so maybe he wanted to start introducing her to the system early.

[–] bjoern_tantau@swg-empire.de 4 points 13 hours ago (1 children)

I remember just about every Kim not being very healthy. The jokes wrote themselves with Kim Jong-il.

[–] ugandan_airways@lemmy.zip 2 points 13 hours ago

Yep. And he died at 60. Younger Kim is on the same track.

[–] morto@piefed.social 1 points 12 hours ago

I thouhgt he was in his early 40s like 10 years ago. Whoa!

[–] captainlezbian@lemmy.world 1 points 12 hours ago* (last edited 12 hours ago)

His dad was a severe alcoholic who croaked young, while his grandpa lasted pretty long. Idk, Un probably ain't lasting Kim il sung long. Also jong il started trotting Jong un out when the writing started appearing on the wall, same for Sung and Il.

Wouldn't surprised if this woman comes to power before 30

[–] ThePowerOfGeek@lemmy.world 25 points 14 hours ago (2 children)

Well there goes the legacy of terrible haircuts. Three generations of shite hair down the drain!

[–] ghost9@piefed.social 12 points 13 hours ago (1 children)

She hasn't taken over yet. There's still time!

[–] egrets@lemmy.world 1 points 6 hours ago
[–] morto@piefed.social 3 points 12 hours ago

Don't underestimate her haircut styling skills!

[–] psx_crab@lemmy.zip 7 points 12 hours ago (2 children)

Democracy is when you select an heir to your throne.

[–] Knock_Knock_Lemmy_In@lemmy.world 4 points 10 hours ago (1 children)

Welcome President Baron Trump

[–] psx_crab@lemmy.zip 1 points 4 hours ago

特朗普万岁万岁万万岁

[–] Riverside@reddthat.com 0 points 5 hours ago (1 children)

Would you consider the Netherlands or Denmark a democracy? Both have literal monarchies.

[–] psx_crab@lemmy.zip 1 points 4 hours ago* (last edited 4 hours ago)

Constitutional Monarchy are very different and limited form of monarchy, where the monarch have very limited power or are simply there for ceremonial purpose. The king doesn't command the parliament, and cannot make policy, and at most can suggest it.

I live in a country with constitutional monarchy and they mostly just there, occasionally making remark and have their opinions. They however still have the power to veto bill and reject project, but it happen very very rarely. They're mostly there as religious leader and political weapon for some.

So to answer your question, yes, Netherlands and Denmark both practice constitutional monarchy, hence they're still considered democracy.