North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un has traveled to China with his teenage daughter Kim Ju Ae, marking her first official foreign trip. The visit has drawn global attention and renewed debate about her possible role as a future successor in the secretive Kim dynasty.
Kim Ju Ae first appeared in public alongside her father in 2022 during a parade showcasing intercontinental ballistic missiles. At the time, the presence of the young girl broke family tradition and raised questions about whether she was being introduced as a potential heir. Now, her presence in Beijing on a major diplomatic visit has intensified those discussions.
Reports from South Korean intelligence suggest that the teenage girl seen stepping off the train with Kim Jong Un in Beijing is indeed Kim Ju Ae. While North Korea keeps details about Kim’s family tightly controlled, analysts believe she is around 13 years old.
Very little is known about Kim Jong Un’s children. Information about their names, ages, and appearances has been kept secret by North Korean state media. However, the mystery surrounding Kim Ju Ae has intrigued the world since she first appeared in public. Former U.S. basketball star Dennis Rodman visited the Kim family in 2013. Later, he spoke about holding a young child during his visit. Observers now believe that child was Kim Ju Ae, who has since emerged as a teenager by her father’s side at important state events.
On Wednesday, Kim Jong Un arrived in Beijing by train to attend a large military parade. It was there that his daughter was also seen, standing close to her father. International observers were surprised by Kim’s decision to bring her on such a significant trip, given North Korea’s tradition of secrecy.
According to Michael Madden, a specialist on North Korean leadership at the Stimson Center, Kim Ju Ae is now seen as the most likely candidate to succeed her father. Madden explained that by joining her father on this diplomatic mission, she has begun gaining practical experience in protocol and state affairs. This, he argued, positions her strongly to become either the next leader or one of the key power figures in North Korea’s future.
Interestingly, this is the first time a member of the Kim family has joined a leader on an overseas trip at such a young age. Madden pointed out that Kim Jong Un himself never traveled abroad with his father, Kim Jong Il. Similarly, Kim Jong Il did not travel overseas with his own father, Kim Il Sung, the founder of North Korea. This unusual move highlights the growing visibility of Kim Ju Ae and may be intended as a signal to both domestic and international audiences about her potential role in the country’s leadership.
In recent years, Kim Ju Ae has been seen at more public events. She attended ceremonies at the Russian embassy in Pyongyang in May, further expanding her exposure to diplomatic settings. Each appearance strengthens speculation that she is being groomed for a central role. South Korea’s intelligence services believe she remains the most likely successor, though doubts remain about whether a woman would ultimately be allowed to take the highest position in the traditionally male-dominated Kim dynasty.
Still, her repeated presence at key events, combined with this landmark trip to China, suggests that Kim Jong Un is deliberately building her profile. For decades, the Kim family has carefully managed the image of its leaders, controlling what the world sees and knows. By breaking with past practice and bringing his daughter on an international visit, Kim Jong Un has opened a new chapter in the dynasty’s carefully crafted narrative. Whether Kim Ju Ae will indeed rise to power remains uncertain, but her growing public role and her presence in Beijing mark a turning point in how North Korea presents its next generation of leadership.
