Kim Jong Un introduces daughter — and potential heir — to world stage

Kim Jong Un’s daughter, widely identified as Kim Ju Ae, made her first public appearance abroad on Sept. 3, when she joined him at a military parade in Beijing commemorating the 80th anniversary of Japan’s World War II surrender. Believed to be 12 or 13 years old, she stood directly behind her father and ahead of senior North Korean officials, prompting speculation she is being positioned as the potential heir to the position of supreme leader.

North Korean state media has never formally confirmed Ju Ae’s identity, name or age. She was first introduced to the public in November 2022 at the launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile, described only as Kim Jong Un’s “beloved” daughter. Since then, she has regularly appeared beside Kim at military parades, missile tests and visits to defense facilities.

In 2023, North Korean outlets began referring to her as the “respected” daughter, a term reserved for senior figures in the country’s leadership hierarchy. Her appearance at events where senior generals are seen bowing toward her has added to speculation over her growing symbolic role, though no official statement has addressed her status.

Despite the child’s rising visibility, the North Korean government has not officially named her as a successor or assigned her any official title. The country does not have a codified process for political succession and transitions of power have historically been managed internally within the Kim family before it is communicated through state-controlled appearances, honorifics and symbolic placements. The daughter, if elevated, would become the fourth member of the Kim dynasty to rule North Korea since it was founded by her great-grandfather, Kim Il Sung, in 1948.

Her Beijing appearance followed a precedent set by Kim Jong Il, who brought Kim Jong Un on diplomatic visits to China in the years before officially passing on leadership. South Korea’s intelligence agency has described her as the likely successor based on her repeated presence at politically significant events. Analysts similarly see these appearances as informal introductions to Pyongyang’s most important international partner.