Kim Jong Un’s daughter makes first appearance abroad, sparking succession speculation
Kim Jong Un’s daughter has fuelled speculation over her future role in North Korea after making her first public appearance outside the country.
Kim Ju-ae, the daughter of the 41-year-old leader, accompanied her father to Beijing ahead of China’s Victory Day parade. Photos released by North Korean state media show her stepping off her father’s train in the Chinese capital, where she was greeted by officials—marking her international debut.
The young girl has previously been seen alongside Kim during major domestic events, including ballistic missile tests and the opening of the Wonsan Kalma resort on the country’s east coast. Since she appeared at an intercontinental ballistic missile launch in 2022, state media has referred to her as Kim’s “respected” daughter.
Michael Madden, a North Korea leadership expert at the US-based Stimson Center, has described Ju-ae as the “frontrunner to become the next supreme leader,” noting she is gaining “protocol experience” and “valuable exposure to foreign leadership and elites.”
The Kim dynasty has ruled North Korea since 1948, fostering the idea of a sacred bloodline destined to lead the nation. Analysts say the timing of Ju-ae’s debut is significant, as it coincided with what appeared to be the strengthening of a new anti-Western alliance—an event seen as underlining her potential status as heir.
Rachel Minyoung Lee, also of the Stimson Center, observed: “The scope of her public appearances has expanded from military to political and economic events. If this is part of a succession campaign, her debut on the international stage would certainly contribute to that effort.”
The prospect of a female leader would mark a first for North Korea, a country that has never been ruled by a woman. Some experts suggest Kim Jong Un, who is believed to have three children, may be positioning Ju-ae early to challenge potential gender-related resistance.
Ju-ae’s existence was first revealed in 2013 by former NBA star Dennis Rodman, who claimed he had held her as a baby during a trip to Pyongyang. At the time, Rodman described Kim as a “good dad with a beautiful family.”
