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North Korean leader Kim Jong-un appeared to the military parade in China that celebrated Japan’s surrender in World War II on Wednesday (3). Next to him, the daughter made an unexpected appearance.
Daughter of Kim Jong-un, leader of North Korea • KRT
Being a closed country, North Korea has never revealed the heiress’s exact name or age, but South Korean intelligence officials identify it as Kim Ju-AE. Many speculate that it may be Kim’s potential successor in the North Korean dynasty.
See everything you know about Kim Jong-un’s daughter
In September 2013, Dennis Rodman, an former American basketball player, revealed that Kim Jong-un had a daughter when he visited the capital Pyongyang, tilling to the British newspaper The Guardian: “I held their baby, Ju-AE, and also talked to his wife (Kim).”
But only in 2022, the existence of Ju-AE was proven, when the North Korean state media said leader Kim was accompanied by the “beloved” daughter while overseeing the launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile. Photos that were released show the two hand in hand.
Even if state media has confirmed the existence of the daughter, no name or age were revealed.
There are different reports about the exact age and the year of birth of Ju-AE; It is estimated that it is now pre-adolescence or early adolescence, although this is mainly based on Rodman’s testimony, and it is unclear how many months she had when he met the family.
In recent years, the alleged daughter of the leader has made other public appearances at events, always next to her father.
Kim Ju-AE’s first appearances
Months after the existence confirmed, Kim Ju-Ae appeared in a parade that marked the founding anniversary of the Korean Popular Army. The state media began to refer to her as the “respected” daughter of the leader.
In March of the same year, she attended another missile release test with Kim Jong-un.
In early September, the leader’s daughter was seen sitting next to her father on the VIP platform of a military parade that celebrated the founding of the country as a republic. Pak Jong Chon, a high military officer and Kim Jong-un representative at the Central Military Commission of the Korea Workers Party, was seen kneeling next to her and speaking in his ear.
The last appearance of the year was in late November, in a reception commemorating the success of launching a recognition satellite. Ju-AE was seen on the main table with his father, still in childish-looking and wearing a shirt with an insignia from the country’s space program.
Hug in Kim Jong-un and Meeting with Diplomat
Kim Ju-Ae started the year in public form, attending a New Year concert on January 1st, and was seen kissing his father’s face and playing him briefly on the chin, a public physical demonstration almost unprecedented with the leader.
In the same month, she accompanied her father in a field orientation in a poultry farm.
In October, the leader’s daughter found the Russian ambassador in North Korea, Alexandr Matsegora, in an event that marks the founding of the Workers Party, squeezing his hands while talking in his ear. This was the first time she was seen in a diplomatic environment.
By 2025, so far, five appearances of the possible North Korean successor have been recorded.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un with his daughter at a New Year’s event • KRT
Latest appearances of the possible successor of North Korea
In April this year, the daughter accompanied Kim Jong-un at the launch of a Navy Fatherwair.
A month later, Ju-Ae accompanied his father on a visit to the Russian embassy on the 80th anniversary of Russia’s victory in World War II. Ambassador Matsegora was photographed giving a kiss on her cheek.
On June 15, she accompanied her father by inspecting a white suit factory and appearing even more maturity. In state media photos, carefully selected for publication, it is highlighted in the foreground.
In the same month, on June 25, Kim Ju-AE attended the official opening of the Wonsan vacation resort on the East Coast, another ambitious project by Kim Jong-un. The state media showed Ju-AE higher than the mother, wearing a tailleur and with the same highlight as Kim Jong-un.
Five days later, she went to a show with Kim Jong-un and Russian culture minister Olga Lyubimova, where photos of North Korean troops in Russia appear on the stage scenario.
His last appearance, so far, has happened a few days ago. Ju-Ae was the second to land a train behind Kim Jong-un. They went to Beijing to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. Other images showed her joining Kim Jong-un and Russian President Vladimir Putin in a car before the bilateral meeting of the leaders.
Next North Korea leader?
North Korea has been governed as a hereditary dictatorship since its foundation in 1948 by Kim Il Sung. The son, Kim Jong Il, took over after his father’s death in 1994, and Kim Jong-un took power 17 years later when Kim Jong Il died.
Given the importance of family dynasty, Kim’s daughter’s public debut causes speculation that she could be prepared to become the successor – with divergent opinions among experts.
As much as there are speculation about other possible children of Kim Jong-un, Ju-AE’s latest appearances further feed the theory that it will be next to govern the country.
Some pointed to the way it is portrayed in the North Korean state media-described as “beloved” and “respected”-as a sign that it can have special status.
Analysts say her first trip abroad confirms her as a likely “favorite” to become the next Supreme Leader of North Korea.
