By Ayomide Otitoju
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s daughter, Ju Ae—widely seen as a potential successor—made her first public visit to the Kumsusan Mausoleum in Pyongyang alongside her parents, state media images show.
Photographs released Friday by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) depict the family paying respects to Ju Ae’s grandfather and great-grandfather, Kim Jong Il and Kim Il Sung, founder of the North Korean state. Analysts note that the Kim family’s “Paektu bloodline” propaganda has reinforced their dominance over North Korean society and sustained their power for decades.
Ju Ae has appeared more frequently in state media over the past three years, prompting speculation from analysts and South Korea’s intelligence services that she could be positioned as the country’s fourth-generation leader. She was first publicly seen in 2022 during an intercontinental ballistic missile launch with her father, and has since participated in New Year celebrations and a September trip to Beijing.
State media referred to Ju Ae as “the beloved child” and a “great person of guidance,” or “hyangdo” in Korean, a title traditionally reserved for top leaders and designated successors. Photographs show her standing between Kim Jong Un and his wife, Ri Sol Ju, alongside senior officials during the January 1 visit.
Prior to 2022, Ju Ae’s existence had only been indirectly confirmed, most notably by former NBA player Dennis Rodman during a 2013 visit to North Korea. The regime has never formally announced successors, instead signalling leadership transitions gradually through public appearances and expanding responsibilities.
Meanwhile, Kim Jong Un reaffirmed plans to boost missile and artillery production, describing them as a “war deterrent” amid heightened military readiness from the United States and South Korea.
