North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s daughter makes public visit to state mausoleum
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North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, his wife Ri Sol Ju and their daughter Kim Ju Ae (front row, in brown jacket), as well as senior officials, in the main hall of the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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SEOUL – North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s daughter, Ju Ae, who is likely being prepared as his successor, accompanied her parents on her first public visit to the Kumsusan mausoleum to pay respects to former leaders, state media photos published on Jan 2 showed.
Kim Ju Ae has been making increasingly prominent appearances in state media over the past three years, fuelling speculation by analysts and South Korea’s intelligence agency that she may be in line to be the country’s fourth-generation leader.
Dr Cheong Seong-chang, vice-president at the Sejong Institute think-tank, viewed Ju Ae’s first presence at the Kumsusan palace as her father’s calculated move ahead of the upcoming ruling party Congress at which her succession might be formalised.
Mr Kim was also accompanied by his wife Ri Sol Ju and senior officials on the visit on Jan 1, with Ju Ae between her parents in the main hall of the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun, photos from state news agency KCNA showed.
Mr Hong Min, an expert on North Korea at the state-run Korea Institute for National Unification, said North Korea had been portraying an image of Mr Kim’s “stable family” by showing his wife and daughter with him on major events.
Ju Ae, who is believed to have been born in the early 2010s, attended the 2026 New Year celebrations, according to state media on Jan 1.
In September 2025, she travelled to Beijing with her father on her first public overseas outing.
Mr Kim visits Kumsusan to honour his late grandfather and state founder Kim Il Sung and late father Kim Jong Il on key dates and anniversaries, in a gesture affirming the dynastic heritage of the nuclear-armed country.
North Korea has never confirmed Ju Ae’s age.
A spokesperson from South Korea’s Unification Ministry declined to comment on Ju Ae’s appearance. An official told reporters the government’s view is that it is too early to say she is a successor, given her age and that she does not hold an official position.
Mr Hong said potential roles of Mr Kim’s other children have left room for caution in drawing conclusions about Ju Ae’s succession.
“It’s practically impossible to publicly designate Kim Ju Ae, who is believed to have just turned 13, as the successor when she’s not even old enough to join the (Workers’) Party,” he said. REUTERS
