The teenage daughter of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has recently visited a sacred family mausoleum, a move seen as strengthening her position as a potential heir to her father. This visit took place on New Year’s Day and has led to speculation that the girl, reportedly named Kim Ju-ae and around 13 years old, could be appointed to a high-ranking position at the upcoming ruling Workers’ Party congress.
Images released by North Korea’s state media depicted Kim Ju-ae standing alongside her parents and paying respects at Pyongyang’s Kumsusan Palace of the Sun, where the preserved bodies of her late grandfather and great-grandfather are enshrined. According to Cheong Seong-Chang, deputy head of the Sejong Institute in South Korea, the palace holds significant political symbolism for the North Korean regime, and her visit just before the Workers’ Party congress is a strategic move.
Kim Jong-un, the third-generation ruler of North Korea, often visits the Kumsusan Palace to honor his father, Kim Jong-il, and grandfather, Kim Il-sung, during important state occasions. There are speculations that Kim Jong-un might assign his daughter the role of first secretary at the Workers’ Party congress, although some experts believe she is too young for such a prominent position and might start with lower-level responsibilities.
The upcoming Workers’ Party congress, the first in five years, aims to set new state priorities and reorganize officials. While the exact date of the congress has not been announced, South Korea’s National Intelligence Service anticipates it will be held in either January or February.
Since her appearance in state media in November 2022, Kim Ju-ae has been seen alongside her father at various public events, including military parades and diplomatic engagements. Notably, during New Year’s celebrations, she displayed familial closeness by kissing her father on the cheek.
The National Intelligence Service views Kim Ju-ae as a potential successor to her father, Kim Jong-un, in January 2024. However, some experts question this assessment due to Kim Jong-un’s youth and the male-dominated structure of North Korea’s leadership. Nevertheless, revealing Kim Ju-ae to the public was unexpected, as neither Kim Jong-un nor Kim Jong-il were featured in North Korean state media before adulthood. This move is believed to be part of Kim Jong-un’s strategy to garner public support for extending the family’s reign by showcasing Kim Ju-ae in public appearances.