North Korea’s ‘most beloved’ child: what the key congress revealed about Kim Jong-un’s succession plans

Many observers believe North Korean leader has decided daughter Kim Ju-ae will succeed him, but others say gender politics could block her path to power

When North Korea's ruling party held a top-level meeting this month there were predictable boasts of unstoppable nuclear development and, more unexpectedly, a suggestion by Kim Jong-un that his country and the US could get along" - provided that Washington recognised North Korea as a legitimate nuclear power.

But for many North Korea watchers, the Workers' party congress - held over several days just once every five years - was a rare opportunity to speculate over the identity of the country's future leader.