SEOUL, February 15. /TASS/. The appearance of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's daughter in public is hardly an indication that she is being groomed as his successor.

Rather, it is meant to strengthen the family’s legacy in the public eye and the cohesion of the country around it, South Korea’s Minister of Unification Kwon Young-se said on Wednesday.

"I think that they are preparing in advance for continuity between the third and fourth generations and that this measure is aimed at strengthening the cohesiveness of the system around Kim Jong-un and the whole family," Kwon said when asked about the reasons for the participation of Kim Jong-un's daughter in public events, the Yonhap news agency reports.

"There is a lot of doubt about a female politician coming to power, given the patriarchal nature of North Korea’s system, as well as Kim Jong-un’s age," Kwon said while commenting on speculation that the DPRK’s leader may be preparing his daughter to take the reins as the leader of the country.

"Naturally, we are considering all options. The marching soldiers [during the parade] chanted a slogan about protecting the Paektu clan (descendants of the founder of the DPRK, Kim Il-sung - TASS). I suspect that we are witnessing measures to strengthen loyalty to Kim Jong-un and his family, and not a specific person," Kwon said. Probably, the DPRK’s authorities were trying to further emphasize the inter-generational legacy, he added.

For the first time, the DPRK’s media mentioned Kim Jong-un’s daughter in November, when she was seen by her father’s side at the launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile. Since then, she has made four public appearances, including one at the February 8 parade marking the Founding Day of the Korean People's Army. The DPRK media did not disclose her name, but many in Seoul believe she is Kim’s second child, Kim Ju-ae.