Kim Jong-un’s daughter visits Pyongyang shrine, fueling succession rumors
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un recently visited the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun with his daughter, Kim Ju-ae, a move analysts believe signals her potential preparation as a successor. The visit, on January 1st, saw Ju-ae accompanying her father and mother, Ri Sol-ju, as they paid respects to former leaders Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il.
This appearance at the mausoleum, a site Kim Jong-un frequently visits for significant national dates, is particularly noteworthy. Ju-ae has been featured more prominently in state media over the past three years, fueling speculation from analysts and South Korea’s intelligence agency that she is being groomed to become North Korea’s fourth-generation dictator.
Experts suggest this public display is a deliberate strategy by Kim Jong-un, especially with an upcoming ruling party congress where her succession might be formalized. The depiction of a “stable family” unit at major events, including his wife and daughter, is seen as a way for North Korea to project an image of continuity.
However, caution is advised in definitively concluding Ju-ae’s succession. Some experts point out that she is believed to be only 13 years old and not yet old enough to join the Workers’ Party, making an immediate public designation as successor unlikely. While her exact birth year has not been confirmed by North Korea, she is thought to have been born in the early 2010s. Ju-ae also attended New Year celebrations and made her first international public outing in September, traveling to Beijing with her father. The presence of other children in Kim Jong-un’s family also leaves some ambiguity regarding future leadership roles.
– Sarah Jenkins (Jenkins.S@theseouljournal.com)
