Kim’s Daughter Makes Historic First Step Beyond NK Borders
Kim Jong Un’s daughter has stepped outside North Korea for the first time in the country’s history. She joined her father on a trip to Beijing where Chinese leader Xi Jinping hosted a military parade. Kim Ju Ae’s appearance at this major international event has sparked widespread speculation about her future in the regime. The visit itself marks a historic moment – no North Korean leader has attended a Chinese military parade since 1959.
This young girl’s international debut comes at a crucial diplomatic gathering where Xi Jinping will display China’s military strength. Kim Jong Un joins 26 other heads of state at the event, with leaders from Myanmar, Iran, and Cuba among the attendees. South Korea’s intelligence agency believes Ju Ae will likely succeed her father. She could become the fourth Kim family member to rule North Korea since its establishment in 1948, and make history as the hereditary dictatorship’s first female ruler.
Kim Ju Ae accompanies Kim Jong Un to Beijing
Image Source: The Korea Herald
The world watched a historic moment on September 2, 2025, as Kim Ju Ae stepped off her father’s heavily armored train in Beijing. This 12-year-old girl caught everyone’s attention by being the second person to leave the train right after her father. Her position ahead of North Korea’s Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui sent a clear message about her status in the state visit’s hierarchy.
First public international appearance draws global attention
The young girl’s appearance abroad sparked intense discussions about her future role in North Korea’s leadership. Beijing became her first step beyond North Korean borders. Many experts drew comparisons to Kim Jong Un’s 2010 China trip, where he went with his father Kim Jong Il to meet then-president Hu Jintao.
Ju Ae stayed away from the dais of world leaders during the Tiananmen Square military parade. All the same, her presence at this high-profile international event seemed like a calculated political statement.
Arrival at Beijing station and red carpet reception
Chinese officials gave the North Korean delegation a warm welcome at Beijing Railway Station. The Communist Party’s senior official Cai Qi and Foreign Minister Wang Yi led the formal reception. North Korean state media showed pictures of Ju Ae standing close to her father during these vital diplomatic meetings.
Every detail of the event followed careful planning. The young girl took the symbolic spot typically reserved for the first lady in the diplomatic hierarchy. This arrangement showed her vital position in North Korea’s regime.
China traditional dress and diplomatic optics
Ju Ae wore a dark suit with a matching bow in her hair for this momentous arrival. Reports described her navy blue suit as perfect for such diplomatic events. Her appearance matched the significance of the occasion – a military parade marking 80 years since Japan’s World War II surrender.
She missed the main parade where leaders brought their spouses, but her presence at the arrival ceremonies made a statement. Michael Madden, who studies North Korea’s leadership, noted, “She is getting practical protocol experience which should serve her well as North Korea’s next leader or a core elite”. Her appearance on this trip backed what South Korean and international analysts believe – she might be next in line to lead North Korea.
Who is Kim Ju Ae and why does she matter?
Image Source: Newsweek
North Korea’s secretive leadership guards information about the ruling family closely. Kim Ju Ae’s mysterious identity has come to light through a series of calculated public appearances.
Identity confirmed after years of speculation
Kim Jong Un’s children remained hidden from public view until 2022. South Korean intelligence reported the leader had children, yet North Korean authorities stayed silent on this matter. A young girl appeared with Kim during an intercontinental ballistic missile launch in November 2022. Her appearance confirmed years of speculation about his family. This carefully planned debut introduced her to domestic and international audiences.
Dennis Rodman’s 2013 revelation
An unexpected source gave the first hint of Ju Ae’s existence. Former NBA star Dennis Rodman visited Pyongyang in 2013. He later told The Guardian: “I held their baby Ju Ae and spoke with [Mr Kim’s wife] as well”. Rodman described Kim Jong Un as “a good dad” with a “beautiful family”. The basketball player’s casual revelation gave the world its first glimpse into the leader’s private life.
Estimated age and family background
South Korea’s National Intelligence Service puts Ju Ae’s age at 10-11 years as of 2023. She appears to be Kim Jong Un’s second child. South Korean intelligence reports suggest the leader has three children: an older brother born in 2010 and a younger sibling born in 2017. Her frequent public appearances have sparked discussions about her future role in the regime.
Her role in North Korean state media
State media’s portrayal of Ju Ae has evolved significantly. They first called her Kim’s “beloved” or “precious” daughter. North Korean media then started using the term “respected” – a title usually given to high-ranking officials. She received the official designation of “great person of guidance” alongside her father by March 2024. These changes in terminology show her growing importance within North Korea’s strict hierarchical system.
Why is her presence at a military parade significant?
Image Source: The Guardian
Kim Ju Ae stands next to her father at military events as part of a calculated political strategy.
Symbolism of military alignment with family dynasty
The Kim dynasty’s image has been woven into military power since North Korea came into being. Their “sacred bloodline” legitimizes their rule through this connection. Kim positions his daughter prominently during military events where senior commanders salute her formally. This clear message shows how military power and family legacy remain inseparable in North Korea’s system of governance.
Comparison to past Kim family appearances
Kim Jong Un showcases his daughter at major military events, unlike his own path to leadership. Kim Jong Il never took his son or his influential sister on trips outside North Korea. Kim chooses military settings to present his daughter, similar to his early days when he built authority with the military before taking his father’s place.
Visibility at ICBM launches and military drills
Ju Ae first appeared publicly at an ICBM launch in 2022. She later attended military parades where she “gazed out at rows of ICBMs”. These strategic appearances signal North Korea’s nuclear program will continue under the Kim family’s rule.
Expert views on dynastic messaging
These carefully orchestrated military appearances send clear succession signals, according to analysts. Professor Leif-Eric Easley noted, “By ostentatiously including his wife and daughter, Kim wants observers at home and abroad to see his family dynasty and the North Korean military as irrevocably linked”.
Is Kim grooming his daughter as successor?
Image Source: Reuters
South Korea’s National Intelligence Service now sees Kim Ju Ae as the “most likely successor” to her father. This view signals a dramatic change in a country where power has moved only through male lineage across three generations.
South Korean intelligence assessments
South Korean intelligence officials determined by January 2024 that the young girl was the “most likely” successor but noted “many variables” still existed. Their assessment came after she appeared systematically in public life, starting with military events before moving to political and economic functions.
Gender dynamics in North Korea’s leadership
A female leader would face huge challenges in this deeply patriarchal state. Women make up just 10% of divisional directors in government bodies, 11.9% of judges and lawyers, and a mere 4.9% of diplomats. The author of a book on North Korean women leaders, Chun Su-jin, believes that “the chance of North Korean elites welcoming Kim’s daughter as ruler is close to zero”.
Public image strategy: family man vs. military leader
Kim Jong Un carefully balances two roles – a caring family man and supreme military commander. Domestic propaganda shows him as “a young, energetic leader, a people person and family man”. This crafted image helps build domestic legitimacy beyond his military credentials.
Potential challenges from party and military elites
Ju Ae would likely face resistance from traditionalists despite careful preparation. Women’s limited political participation stands out clearly, as female representation in the Workers’ Party of Korea remains well below equal levels. Kim Ju Ae would need extensive education and hands-on experience to establish her authority if succession moves forward.
Kim Ju Ae’s first appearance beyond North Korean borders marks a defining moment in the regime’s dynastic politics. Her well-planned debut with her father at Beijing’s military parade shows a calculated move to strengthen her position in North Korea’s power structure. This international introduction builds on her earlier domestic appearances at military events since 2022.
The young girl’s position during diplomatic events speaks volumes about her status. She stepped off the train right after her father and before senior officials. All the same, she faces major hurdles if she becomes North Korea’s first female ruler. The country’s patriarchal political system has very few women in government and diplomatic roles, which creates real barriers to her future leadership.
South Korean intelligence agencies believe she will likely succeed her father, though many questions remain in this complex political situation. Kim Jong Un balances his roles as supreme military commander and caring father – a planned approach to boost his regime’s authority.
Kim Ju Ae follows a path similar to her father’s rise to power, but her Beijing visit sets a new standard. Neither Kim Jong Un nor his influential aunt went abroad with Kim Jong Il during their pre-leadership years. This makes her international debut even more remarkable.
The global community watches as this young potential heir gains diplomatic experience. No one knows if this trip officially marks her as successor or serves as another strategic move. The Kim dynasty has always kept observers guessing throughout its three-generation rule. Her Beijing appearance might one day be seen as the moment North Korea introduced its future leader to the world.
