PYONGYANG, North Korea, January 3, 2026 — Ju Ae, the daughter of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, made a highly symbolic public appearance on New Year’s Day at the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun mausoleum, sparking more rumors that she might be being groomed as a successor. State media images showed Ju Ae standing between her parents as they paid respects to the embalmed bodies of former leaders Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il.
Who is Kim Ju Ae?
Kim Ju Ae (born around 2012–2013) is the daughter of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and his wife Ri Sol Ju. As of early 2026, she is widely viewed as the most likely successor to lead the nuclear-armed nation.
She first appeared publicly in November 2022 alongside her father during an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) launch. South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS) stated in 2024, and reaffirmed in 2025, that she is being groomed as the heir apparent. Her status has been progressively improved by North Korean state media, which has changed references to her from “loving” daughter to “respected” and, more recently, to “Great Person of Guidance” (hyangdo), a moniker usually given to high-ranking officials and their successors.
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In September 2025, she made her first official overseas trip with her father to Beijing for a military parade. On New Year’s Day 2026, she visited the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun for the first time, reinforcing her position within the ruling “Paektu bloodline.” Analysts believe she could receive a formal political role, such as First Secretary of the Workers’ Party, at the party congress in early 2026.
She is estimated to be 13 or 14 years old in 2026. Her existence was first indirectly confirmed in 2013 by former NBA player Dennis Rodman. Intelligence reports suggest she is homeschooled and enjoys horseback riding, skiing, and swimming. While she is the only child seen publicly, she is believed to have an older brother and a younger sibling.
Why is Ju Ae’s appearance at the mausoleum significant?
The embalmed bodies of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il, the founding leaders of North Korea, are kept in the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun. Visits to the mausoleum on key dates are a long-standing tradition used to reinforce the legitimacy of the country’s dynastic rule. Analysts say this marks Ju Ae’s first public appearance at the revered site, a move interpreted as a strong signal about her future political role within the regime.
How has Ju Ae’s public profile evolved?
Ju Ae’s appearances with her father have grown in scope and significance since her public debut in 2022. Over the past three years, she has been seen with Kim Jong Un with growing frequency. She first appeared outside of North Korea in September 2025 when she traveled to Beijing with him. This trip was generally interpreted as another indication of her elevated status.
What does her presence suggest about North Korean succession?
Analysts suggest Ju Ae, believed to be around 12 or 13 years old, may be being groomed as the country’s potential fourth-generation leader.Her assimilation into the regime’s public narrative is highlighted by her prominent location during significant official events, such as holding her father’s hand and socializing with other youngsters during Pyongyang’s New Year’s celebrations.
What other New Year’s events were reported?
According to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Kim Jong Un and his daughter were also seen together during New Year’s celebrations in the capital, Pyongyang. Ju Ae was prominently featured beside the leader in a taekwondo demonstration, fireworks displays, and patriotic performances.
