August M
A carefully choreographed appearance by North Korea’s ruling family has drawn renewed attention to questions about the country’s future leadership. Images released by state media have added fresh fuel to long-running speculation among analysts and officials abroad.
The moment comes as Pyongyang prepares for key political events and continues to emphasise the continuity of its ruling dynasty.
Symbolic visit
According to Reuters, Kim Jong Un’s daughter, Ju Ae, joined her parents on a visit to the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun on January 1. It marked her first publicly documented appearance at the mausoleum where former leaders Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il are honoured.
Photographs published by the state news agency KCNA showed Ju Ae standing between her father and mother, Ri Sol Ju, in the main hall. Senior officials also accompanied the family during the visit.
Kim traditionally visits the mausoleum on significant dates, a gesture meant to underline the legitimacy and heritage of the Kim family’s rule.
Rising visibility
Ju Ae has appeared with growing frequency in North Korean state media over the past three years. Analysts and South Korea’s intelligence agency have noted her increasing prominence, raising the possibility that she is being prepared as a future leader.
Cheong Seong-chang, vice president of the Sejong Institute, told Reuters that her presence at Kumsusan appeared to be a calculated move by Kim Jong Un. He suggested it could be linked to an upcoming ruling Workers’ Party congress, where succession issues might be addressed.
Ju Ae, believed to have been born in the early 2010s, also attended this year’s New Year celebrations and accompanied her father on her first known overseas trip to Beijing in September.
Mixed signals
Experts caution against drawing firm conclusions. Hong Min, a researcher at the Korea Institute for National Unification, said the regime has been projecting an image of a “stable family” by showing Kim alongside his wife and daughter at major events.
At the same time, Hong noted that the existence of Kim Jong Un’s other children leaves room for uncertainty about any succession plan. North Korea has never officially confirmed Ju Ae’s age.
South Korea’s Unification Ministry declined to comment directly on her appearance. A spokesperson said it was too early to label her a successor, citing her young age and lack of any official position.
Limits of speculation
Hong told Reuters that publicly naming a successor at this stage would be highly unusual. “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.
For now, analysts say Ju Ae’s growing visibility reflects careful image management rather than a definitive transfer of power.
The moment comes as Pyongyang prepares for key political events and continues to emphasise the continuity of its ruling dynasty.
Sources: Reuters
