Kim Ju Ae, the young daughter of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and his wife Ri Sol-Ju, has begun attracting international attention, fueling speculation about her future role in the secretive nation. For years, the details of Kim’s family have been shrouded in secrecy, with only Ju Ae’s existence confirmed by the state. She is believed to be the second of three children, though the exact number and order remain uncertain.
Interest in Ju Ae first arose in an unexpected way. In 2013, former basketball player Dennis Rodman revealed to The Guardian that he had held the infant Ju Ae during a visit to North Korea. After that brief mention, the young girl largely disappeared from public view until November 2022, when she appeared alongside her father at the launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). By February 2023, she had begun appearing on postage stamps and attending official banquets, being described as Kim Jong Un’s “respected” daughter a title reserved for North Korea’s most revered figures.
South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS) has offered a few insights into her life. She reportedly enjoys horse riding, skiing, and swimming and is home-schooled in the capital, Pyongyang. While initially estimated to be around ten years old, intelligence assessments by January 2024 suggested she could be her father’s most likely successor, although they noted that many variables remain, including her father’s relatively young age.
Ju Ae’s appearances at military parades and missile launches, often receiving salutes from senior commanders, underline the symbolic grooming of a future leader. Her presence at Kim Jong Un’s recent visit to China marked the first time she was seen outside North Korea, signaling her growing prominence on the international stage.
The Kim family has ruled North Korea since 1948, promoting the idea of a sacred bloodline, which historically has only allowed male leaders. Analysts suggest that introducing Ju Ae now could be a strategic move to navigate North Korea’s patriarchal structures while signaling continuity of the regime.
Though she is still a child, Kim Ju Ae’s carefully staged public appearances indicate that she may play a central role in the country’s future leadership, potentially becoming the first woman to lead the hermit kingdom in its 76-year history.
