On New Year’s Day, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s teenage daughter, reportedly named Kim Ju-ae and around 13 years old, visited a family mausoleum for the first time. This visit has sparked speculation that she might be appointed as a high-ranking official at the upcoming Workers’ Party congress. Images released by North Korea’s state media showed Kim Ju-ae standing alongside her parents at Pyongyang’s Kumsusan Palace of the Sun, where her late grandfather and great-grandfather are enshrined.
This visit to the palace, seen as a symbol of the North Korean regime’s legitimacy, ahead of the Workers’ Party congress is seen as a strategic move orchestrated for political purposes, according to Cheong Seong-Chang, deputy head of the Sejong Institute in South Korea. Kim Jong-un, the third-generation ruler of North Korea, usually pays respects at the palace on significant state occasions.
It is predicted that Kim Jong-un might appoint his daughter to a prominent role within the Workers’ Party at the congress. However, some experts believe she is too young for such a high-profile position and may be assigned lower-level responsibilities. The upcoming congress, the first in five years, aims to set new state policies and reshuffle officials, with speculations suggesting it could take place in either January or February.
Since her first appearance in state media in November 2022, Kim Ju-ae has been seen accompanying her father to various events, including military parades and official trips. The close bond between Kim Jong-un and his daughter was evident during New Year’s Day celebrations when she affectionately kissed her father on the cheek. The National Intelligence Service of South Korea has suggested that Kim Ju-ae could potentially be Kim Jong-un’s successor, although some experts question this due to Kim Jong-un’s age and the male-dominated nature of North Korea’s leadership structure.
The public exposure of Kim Ju-ae by Kim Jong-un has surprised foreign observers, as neither Kim Jong-un nor his father, Kim Jong-il, were prominently featured in North Korean state media before adulthood. This deliberate showcasing of Kim Ju-ae in public events is believed to be a strategic move by Kim Jong-un to solidify public support for the continuation of the family’s rule.