North Korean president brings daughter to China, fueling speculation of future leadership role

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has taken his young daughter on his most significant foreign trip in years — a visit to China aimed at strengthening ties with Beijing amid Pyongyang's ongoing diplomatic isolation. The presence of the girl, believed to be named Kim Ju Ae, has reignited speculation that she may be groomed as his successor.

Ju Ae, thought to be around 12 or 13 years old, was seen closely following her father as he stepped off his family’s iconic green armored train in Beijing, where they were welcomed by senior Chinese officials, Independent reports.

The trip marks her first known overseas appearance, a symbolic move that analysts say could indicate her growing role in North Korea’s political future.

Since 2022, Kim Jong Un has increasingly showcased his daughter at high-profile state events — most notably during a test launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile. State media at the time released a series of images showing the two walking hand-in-hand, with Ju Ae wearing a white coat and red shoes, observing the missile launch from a distance.

Her appearances have since expanded beyond military events to include major economic and cultural initiatives, such as the opening of a beach resort in June and the launch of a naval destroyer in April.

Though North Korean state media have never officially named the girl, they refer to her as “beloved” and “respected.” The name Ju Ae is widely assumed based on former NBA star Dennis Rodman's 2013 claim that he held Kim’s baby daughter during a visit to Pyongyang.

South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS) believes Ju Ae is the likely successor, citing her elevated public profile and state protocols afforded to her. However, the agency has also noted that “there are still various possibilities” for succession, as Kim Jong Un, 41, is in good health and has other children.

Skepticism remains among experts, who cite North Korea’s patriarchal system and Confucian traditions. Since 1948, the regime has only been led by male members of the Kim dynasty, with Kim Jong Un assuming power after the death of his father, Kim Jong Il, in 2011.

By Vafa Guliyeva