North Korean leader Kim Jong-un made a public appearance with his daughter Ju Ae during a New Year’s visit to the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun, the highly symbolic site where the embalmed bodies of the country’s founding leaders are kept, state media reported on Friday.
Pictures released by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) show Ju Ae standing between her parents in the mausoleum’s main hall as they pay their respects to Kim Il Sung, the founder of North Korea and grandfather of Kim Jong Un, and Kim Jong Il, his father.
A symbolic appearance in a dynastic place
Kim’s visit to the Kumsusan Mausoleum on key dates and anniversaries is a long-standing tradition used to bolster the legitimacy of North Korea’s dynastic rule. Analysts say Ju Ae’s presence during the visit marks her first public appearance at the revered site and adds to growing speculation about her future role in the regime.
Ju Ae has been making increasingly frequent appearances with her father over the past three years, leading South Korea’s intelligence service and independent analysts to believe she may be being raised as the country’s fourth-generation leader.
New Year celebrations in Pyongyang
Kim and his daughter were also seen together during Pyongyang’s New Year celebrations, which included fireworks, patriotic performances and a taekwondo demonstration, KCNA said.
Photos showed Ju Ae sitting next to her father, holding his hand and interacting with the children at his side, underscoring her prominent position in public during state events.
Succession speculation is growing
North Korea has never confirmed Ju Ae’s age, although analysts believe she is around 12 or 13. Since her public debut in 2022, her appearance has steadily increased in scale and symbolism.
In September, Ju Ae made her first appearance outside of North Korea, accompanying Kim on a visit to Beijing – his first trip to China in years – a move widely interpreted as another signal of her potential status as the heir-apparent.
Kumsu Palace of the Sun
