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North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s daughter, Kim Ju Ae, who is apt being prepared arsenic his successor, accompanied her parents connected her archetypal nationalist sojourn to the Kumsusan mausoleum to wage respects to erstwhile leaders, authorities media photos published connected Friday (January 2, 2026) showed.
Ms. Kim has been making progressively salient appearances successful authorities media implicit the past 3 years, fuelling speculation by analysts and South Korea’s quality bureau that she whitethorn beryllium successful enactment to beryllium the country’s fourth-generation leader.
Cheong Seong-chang, vice president astatine the Sejong Institute deliberation tank, viewed Ms. Kim’s archetypal beingness astatine the Kumsusan palace arsenic her father’s calculated determination up of the upcoming ruling enactment Congress astatine which her succession might beryllium formalised.
Mr. Kim was besides accompanied by his wife, Ri Sol Ju, and elder officials connected the sojourn connected January 1, with Ms. Kim betwixt her parents successful the main hallway of the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun, authorities quality agency KCNA photographs showed.
Hong Min, an adept connected North Korea at the state-run Korea Institute for National Unification, said North Korea had been portraying an representation of Mr. Kim’s “stable family” by showing the woman and the girl on with Mr. Kim connected large events.
Kim Ju Ae, who is believed to person been calved successful the aboriginal 2010s, attended this year’s New Year celebrations, according to authorities media connected Thursday (January 1, 2026). In September, she travelled to Beijing with her begetter connected her archetypal nationalist overseas outing.
Mr. Kim visits Kumsusan to honour his gramps and authorities founder, Kim Il Sung, and begetter Kim Jong Il connected cardinal dates and anniversaries successful a motion affirming the dynastic practice of the nuclear-armed country.
North Korea has ne'er confirmed Kim Ju Ae’s age.
South Korea’s Unification Ministry spokesperson declined to remark connected Ms. Kim’s appearance. An authoritative told reporters the government’s presumption is it is excessively aboriginal to accidental she is a successor, fixed her property and she does not clasp an authoritative position.
Mr. Hong said imaginable roles of Kim’s different children person near country for caution successful drafting conclusions astir Ms. Kim’s succession.
“It’s practically intolerable to publically designate Kim Ju Ae, who is believed to person conscionable turned 13, arsenic the successor erstwhile she’s not adjacent aged capable to join the [Workers’] Party,” Mr. Hong said.
