Kim Jong Un’s daughter Ju Ae appears at Kumsusan Palace on New Year’s Day
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North Korean leader Kim Jong Un made a public appearance with his daughter Ju Ae during his New Year’s visit to the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun, a symbolic site commemorating the country’s founding leaders.
Footage from state news agency KCNA shows Ju Ae standing between her parents in the main hall of the mausoleum; analysts say the moment sparked speculation about his future role in the regime.
Ju Ae has appeared more frequently in state media over the past three years, fueling speculation by analysts and South Korea’s intelligence agency that she could be positioned as a potential successor to Kim Jong Un.
The appearance comes amid a long-standing tradition in North Korea where Kim visits the mausoleum on key dates and anniversaries to bolster the legitimacy of the nuclear-armed nation’s dynastic legacy.
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North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, his wife Ri Sol Ju and their daughter Kim Ju Ae visited the Kumsusan Sun Palace to celebrate the new year in Pyongyang, North Korea, on January 1. (KCNA via Reuters)
North Korea has never confirmed Ju Ae’s age, and her exact age is unknown, but she is believed to be around 12 or 13 years old.
After making her public debut in North Korea in 2022, Ju Ae made her first public appearance outside her home country in September when she accompanied her father on a trip to Beijing; this was his first visit to China in years; Analysts say the move could point to his role as North Korea’s crown prince.
Ju Ae’s existence was accidentally revealed by retired NBA star Dennis Rodman in an interview with The Guardian more than a decade ago.
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North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and his daughter Kim Ju Ae attended the event held to celebrate the new year in Pyongyang, North Korea. (KCNA via Reuters)
Rodman told reporters during a trip to Pyongyang in 2013 that he was “holding his baby Ju Ae” while calling Kim Jong Un a “good father.”
Parenting expert Kirsty Ketley told Fox News Digital in September that thrusting Ju Ae into the global spotlight at a young age could have lasting consequences.
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North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and his daughter Kim Ju Ae attended the New Year celebrations. (KCNA via Reuters)
“Instead of being supported to understand who she is as an individual, she is put into a role and this pressure can have a huge impact on her mental health,” she said.
Fox News Digital’s Emma Bussey and Reuters contributed to this report.
