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Kim Ju Ae’s first overseas appearance alongside her father in Beijing has revived speculation about North Korea’s dynastic succession and its future leadership
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un being greeted next to his daughter Kim Ju Ae by Director of the General Office of the Chinese Communist Party Cai Qi. (Image: KCNA via REUTERS)
When Kim Jong Un arrived in Beijing on Tuesday aboard his signature armoured green train, he was welcomed by senior Chinese officials on a red carpet. Trailing just behind him was a young girl in a black coat with a navy ribbon in her hair, a quiet but unmistakable presence.
That girl is believed to be Kim Ju Ae, the North Korean leader’s daughter. This was her first confirmed appearance outside North Korea, and she stood close to Kim as the delegation disembarked at Beijing Railway Station. While she was not seen at the military parade on Wednesday, her presence at the arrival ceremony was enough to trigger renewed speculation about her rising profile.
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The event itself was significant. China’s parade marked 80 years since Japan’s defeat in World War II, but also featured a symbolic show of solidarity between China, Russia, and North Korea, countries that have grown increasingly aligned against the US-led international order. According to Bloomberg, the moment also served to reinforce their “resolve to coordinate more openly in challenging” that order.
Why Is This Appearance Important?
Kim Ju Ae’s presence at an international event, especially one attended by Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin, is being widely seen as part of a larger strategic message.
According to Bloomberg, Ju Ae’s trip drew comparisons to Kim Jong Un’s own 2010 visit to China with his father, Kim Jong Il, a trip that in hindsight foreshadowed his rise to power. Ju Ae’s appearance may have served a similar purpose: a soft diplomatic introduction to North Korea’s most important ally.
The New York Times quoted Yang Moo-jin, a former president of the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul, who described the visit as a ritual of “introducing herself” to China’s leadership.
Is Kim Ju Ae Being Groomed To Lead?
That remains unclear. Kim Ju Ae has been appearing in North Korea’s state media since 2022, always in settings that involve weapons tests, missile launches or military parades. She has been described in state broadcasts as the “beloved” or “respected” daughter, labels that were previously reserved for members of the ruling elite.
While there has been no official declaration of her status, her consistent presence at events related to North Korea’s nuclear programme has led many to believe she is being positioned as a future leader. According to Bloomberg, some South Korean intelligence officials believe Ju Ae is receiving training to prepare for a future leadership role. The fact that she was included in Kim’s first trip to China in six years adds further weight to the speculation.
At the same time, North Korea has a long history of keeping succession plans secret until the very last moment, according to CNN. Kim Jong Un himself was not publicly acknowledged as his father’s heir until after a major health scare in the family. By those standards, Ju Ae’s early visibility is unusual, and perhaps intentional.
Could There Be Other Motives Behind Her Appearances?
Yes. Not all experts agree that Ju Ae is being prepared to take over.
Jenny Town, senior fellow at the Stimson Center, told CNN that her public role may be more about humanising Kim’s image than signalling succession. “It would make sense for Kim to use his daughter for that purpose instead of his sons, because Rodman had already revealed her existence to the world, whereas even less is known about her siblings,” she said.
Indeed, Ju Ae’s identity first became public in 2013, when American basketball player Dennis Rodman told The Guardian that he had “held their baby Ju Ae” during a visit to Pyongyang. That disclosure made her the only confirmed child of Kim Jong Un known to the outside world.
One expert interviewed by CNN noted that Ju Ae may have been chosen to appear precisely because her name was already out. Her brothers, if any, could still be kept in the shadows and groomed in private. In that sense, her media presence could be more about optics than power.
How Does This Compare To Past Successions?
North Korea’s past transitions of power have followed patterns of secrecy, with male successors groomed quietly in military or party roles before being publicly acknowledged. Kim Jong Un was younger and less experienced than his predecessors, but his rise still relied heavily on dynastic symbolism. Ju Ae’s growing presence, particularly at events tied to weapons development, fits within that tradition.
Bloomberg noted that her role in Beijing was reminiscent of Kim’s 2010 China visit, suggesting that the state may be preparing domestic and foreign audiences for a similar transition, even if it is years away.
Is A Female Successor Possible In North Korea?
There is no modern precedent for a woman leading North Korea, and it remains unclear whether the country’s power structures, especially the military, would accept one. Both Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il passed power to their sons.
However, Ju Ae’s frequent presence alongside her father at military inspections and missile launches suggests she is being publicly framed as a key figure.
Still, with Kim Jong Un in his early 40s, a leadership transition is unlikely to happen anytime soon. What’s more probable is that Ju Ae’s role will continue to grow, slowly but deliberately, as part of a broader strategy to preserve dynastic control.
So What Message Is Pyongyang Trying To Send?
At a time when North Korea is doubling down on its ties with China and Russia, Ju Ae’s presence in Beijing was as much about projecting future stability as it was about family.
For the regime’s closest allies, it may offer reassurance that the Kim dynasty is strong and enduring. For rivals, it underscores that the leadership’s identity and its commitment to military strength is being passed on to the next generation. And for domestic audiences, it builds the narrative of an unbroken line, steeped in tradition but preparing for the future.
About the Author
Karishma Jain, Chief Sub Editor at News18.com, writes and edits opinion pieces on a variety of subjects, including Indian politics and policy, culture and the arts, technology and social change. Follow her @kar…Read More
Karishma Jain, Chief Sub Editor at News18.com, writes and edits opinion pieces on a variety of subjects, including Indian politics and policy, culture and the arts, technology and social change. Follow her @kar… Read More
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