The daughter of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has made a significant and symbolic public appearance, visiting the state mausoleum with her parents for the first time and intensifying speculation she is being prepared as his successor.
A Calculated New Year's Visit
State media photographs released on 1 January showed the North Korean ruler, accompanied by his wife, Ri Sol-ju, and their daughter, Kim Ju-ae, paying respects at the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun. The images depicted the trio standing together in the main hall of the mausoleum, which houses the remains of former leaders Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il.
This visit marks Kim Ju-ae's first publicly recorded trip to the sacred site, a location her father frequents on key national dates and anniversaries. The timing, ahead of the new year and a potential ruling party congress, is viewed by analysts as highly deliberate.
Rising Profile of a Potential Heir
Over the past three years, Kim Ju-ae's profile in North Korean state media has grown steadily and prominently. Her appearances have evolved from rare sightings to regular accompaniment at major military parades, ballistic missile tests, and state banquets.
In a notable step, she travelled with her father to Beijing in September for her first publicly acknowledged overseas trip. This pattern of increasing visibility has led South Korea's National Intelligence Service and numerous analysts to conclude she is the most likely candidate to become the country's fourth-generation leader.
Analysts Weigh the Evidence and Caveats
Cheong Seong-chang, a vice-president at the Sejong Institute thinktank, interpreted the mausoleum visit as a clear strategic move. He suggested it could be a precursor to a more formal announcement of her status at an upcoming Workers' Party gathering.
However, experts urge caution before drawing definitive conclusions. Hong Min, from the Korea Institute for National Unification, noted that while the regime is projecting an image of a "stable family" unit, the existence of Kim Jong-un's other children, who remain out of the public eye, leaves room for uncertainty.
"It's practically impossible to publicly designate Kim Ju-ae, who is believed to have just turned 13, as the successor when she's not even old enough to join the [Workers'] party," Hong stated. North Korea has never officially confirmed her age, though she is widely believed to have been born in the early 2010s.
The carefully managed revelation of Kim Ju-ae's activities continues to be the primary method through which the secretive state signals its future intentions, keeping international observers analysing every gesture and placement in official photographs.
