Kim Jong Un’s Daughter Makes First International Appearance in Beijing

TDT | Manama

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North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has traveled to Beijing with his daughter and possible heir, Kim Ju Ae, to attend a large military parade on Wednesday, state media images showed.

This marks the first known international appearance by the teenager, who has previously been seen at numerous North Korean weapons tests alongside her father. Analysts say her presence abroad signals her growing role in the Kim family’s succession plans.

Who is Kim Ju Ae?

Kim Ju Ae was first publicly introduced in 2022 during the launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile. However, her existence was revealed much earlier by former NBA player Dennis Rodman, who visited Pyongyang in 2013. At the time, Rodman said Kim Jong Un introduced him to his wife, Ri Sol Ju, and their baby daughter.

Though North Korea’s state media never confirmed her name, South Korean intelligence identifies her as Ju Ae, the daughter of Kim and his wife, who are believed to have married in 2009.

How has she been portrayed?

North Korean media has described her as “the beloved child” and “the esteemed child.” Images have shown senior officials bowing before her, while public appearances highlight her close relationship with her father—walking arm-in-arm, whispering, and even entering cars before him.

She has also caught attention for her style, wearing designer items such as Gucci sunglasses and Cartier watches, while at times mirroring her father’s trademark look with matching leather jackets and dark glasses.

Her first trip abroad

While she has attended several domestic military and diplomatic events, this Beijing visit is considered her first official trip abroad.

“By accompanying Kim to a close ally’s Victory Day celebration, she is effectively making her formal debut on foreign soil,” said Yang Moo-jin, former president of the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul.

Analysts believe that moving from domestic appearances to international events could be the “final gateway toward succession,” signaling that Kim Ju Ae may be positioned as the next leader in the Kim dynasty.