Kim Jong Un's Daughter Visits Family Mausoleum, Signaling Her Emerging Role

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The teenage daughter of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un made her first known visit to a sacred family mausoleum, a step that experts say bolstered her status as her father’s potential heir.

The visit, which occurred on New Year’s Day, even sparked speculation that the girl, reportedly named Kim Ju Ae and aged about 13, could be named a high-level official at the upcoming ruling Workers’ Party congress.

In a significant display of North Korean political tradition, state media showcased images on Friday of Kim Ju Ae, prominently positioned in the front row alongside her parents. The family was seen making a deep bow at Pyongyang’s Kumsusan Palace of the Sun, where the preserved bodies of her ancestors, Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il, are respectfully displayed.

In this photo provided by the North Korean government, leader Kim Jong Un, center right, his wife Ri Sol Ju, third left, and their daughter, center, believed to be named Kim Ju Ae, visit Kumsusan Palace of the Sun in Pyongyang, North Korea, Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026. — Images carried by North Korea’s state media on Friday showed Kim Ju Ae standing in the front row with her parents. (AP)

This visit is more than a ceremonial gesture; it symbolizes the regime’s legitimacy, especially as it coincides with the lead-up to the Workers’ Party congress. Cheong Seong-Chang, who serves as the deputy head of the Sejong Institute in South Korea, described it as a carefully orchestrated political maneuver.

Kim Jong Un, now 41, continues the lineage of his family’s rule, a legacy that began in 1948 with the founding of North Korea. He frequently commemorates important state anniversaries by visiting the Kumsusan Palace, paying tribute to the forebears of his regime.

As the congress approaches, Cheong speculates that Kim Jong Un might elevate his daughter to a prominent position, potentially appointing her as the first secretary of the Workers’ Party. This role, being the second most influential within the party, would reflect a significant shift in the country’s leadership dynamics.

Set to be the first in five years, this congress will likely redefine state policies and see a reshuffling of key officials, marking a critical juncture in North Korea’s political landscape.

Other experts say she is too young to accept such a high-profile post and might be provided with lower-level jobs.

The daughter of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, reportedly named Kim Ju Ae, attends a military parade to mark the 75th founding anniversary of the Korean People's Army on Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang, North Korea on Feb. 8, 2023. — In January 2024, the NIS said it viewed Kim Ju Ae as her father’s likely heir. (KCNA/Korea News Service via AP)

The congress, the first of its kind in five years, is meant to establish new priorities in state policies and reshuffle officials.

North Korea hasn’t said when it will hold it, but the National Intelligence Service, South Korea’s spy agency, said it likely will be held either in January or February.

Since first appearing in state media in November 2022, Kim Ju Ae has accompanied her father at a slew of events, including military parades and missile launches.

In September, Kim Jong Un brought her on his trip to Beijing. During New Year’s Day celebrations this week, she kissed her father on the cheek, showing their closeness.

Kim Jong Un is the third generation of his family to rule North Korea since the country’s foundation in 1948. (AP)

In January 2024, the NIS said it viewed Kim Ju Ae as her father’s likely heir.

Some outside experts disagree with that assessment, citing Kim Jong Un’s relatively young age and the extremely male-dominated nature of North Korea’s power hierarchy.

The NIS told lawmakers in November that Kim appeared to have no major health problems.

Revealing the young Kim Ju Ae was a surprise to foreign experts because neither Kim Jong Un nor Kim Jong Il were mentioned in North Korean state media before they became adults.

Some observers say Kim Jong Un likely aimed to shore up public support for his plan to extend the family’s rule by repeatedly disclosing Kim Ju Ae in public events.