Kim Jong Un set foot in Beijing Tuesday for his first visit to China in years, accompanied by his daughter, Kim Ju Ae, also thought to be his successor, per South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS).
The young girl is believed to be around 12 or 13 and her debut appearance outside of her home country signals a possible role as North Korea’s heir-in-waiting, a parenting expert suspects. She was first publicly introduced in North Korea in 2022.
Dressed in a smart black suit, Kim Ju Ae followed her father as they were welcomed by Communist Party officials ahead of China’s military parade, marking the 80th anniversary of Japan’s surrender in World War II.
On Wednesday, she may stand alongside Russia’s President Vladimir Putin and China’s President Xi Jinping.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and his daughter Kim Ju Ae chat as they attend a warship ceremony in June 2025. (Korean Central News Agency. KCNA via REUTERS)
“Kim Ju Ae doesn’t get those usual luxuries because her playground is now military parades and meetings with world leaders,” Ketley warned. “While she may be carefully shielded and trained, internally she could well be experiencing anxiety, confusion, or even loneliness. Intense public pressure can stunt children’s emotional growth.”
Despite Tuesday’s global introduction, the public is not aware of Kim Ju Ae’s exact age. It’s thought she is the second of three kids that Kim Jong Un has with his wife, Ri Sol-Ju, as the dictator remains secretive about his family.
Retired NBA star Dennis Rodman inadvertently revealed the girl’s existence over a decade ago in an interview with The Guardian.
During a 2013 trip to Pyongyang, Rodman told reporters he had “held the baby Ju Ae,” calling Kim Jong Un a “good dad.”
“If I were advising Kim Jong Un, I’d urge him to balance his daughter’s exposure to power with opportunities for normality, including friendships, play and chances to fail, which are the building blocks of resilience,” said Ketley.
