03.09.2025 14:56
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un introduced his 12-year-old daughter Kim Ju-ae as a potential successor on the world stage during a military parade held in Beijing.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un traveled to Beijing this week to strengthen relations with China and Russia. However, there was another important aspect of the visit: introducing his daughter to the world.
FIRST TIME ON STAGE
Kim's 12-year-old daughter Kim Ju-ae accompanied her father and made her debut at an international event during a military parade held in Beijing. Kim and his entourage, who arrived in the capital by special train on Tuesday, were welcomed by senior Chinese officials.
In photos released by North Korea's state media, Ju-ae was seen alongside her father. This was her first overseas visit. Her frequent appearances alongside her father at military parades, weapon tests, and critical political events since late 2022 are seen as an indication that Ju-ae holds a special position.
RAISING HER AS A SUCCESSOR
While South Korean experts believe that the young girl is being raised as a successor, they approach the situation with caution. Nevertheless, Kim Jong Un taking his daughter on his first visit to China in six years indicates that her status has risen. Yang Moo-jin, the former head of the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul, described this visit as a "ritual of introducing himself to Chinese leadership."
"NORTH KOREA'S SECOND IN COMMAND"
Cheong Seong-chang from the Sejong Institute stated, "The images from Beijing show that Ju-ae is seen as North Korea's second in command, not only within the country but also abroad. By bringing his daughter to China, Kim Jong Un strongly conveyed the message that she will be his successor." Kim Jong Un himself was declared the heir at a young age by his father Kim Jong-il, but this situation was kept secret until Kim Jong-il suffered a stroke in 2008.