After her appearance in Beijing with her father, Kim Ju-ae, the daughter of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, is being seen as his most likely successor. She is believed to be around 12 or 13 years old and is the North Korean leader’s only publicly known child. Kim Ju-ae has been appearing at public events since November 2022, attending missile tests, military parades and diplomatic meetings.
Her increasingly formal attire and presence suggest she is preparing for a significant role in the future. During a visit to China this week, she accompanied her father to a meeting with leaders Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping, sending a message that the Kim dynasty will continue. North Korean media has begun calling her the “respected child,” a title reserved only for top leaders.
However, experts warn that there is no guarantee that she will inherit the throne. There are other candidates, such as her mother and uncle, also considered one of the most powerful figures in the country. Success in North Korea has no clear model. Kim Jong-un may be grooming his daughter to ensure the continuity of the dynasty and send a clear message at home and abroad.