North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s daughter appeared publicly during a visit to the state mausoleum

An official said the government believes it is premature to label her a successor, citing her young age and the fact that she holds no formal role.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s daughter, Kim Ju-ae, who is likely to be groomed as his successor, accompanied her parents on their first public visit to the Kumsusan mausoleum to pay tribute to the former leaders, state media photos published on Friday (January 2, 2026) showed.

Ms. Kim has been making increasingly prominent appearances in state media over the past three years, fueling speculation by analysts and South Korea’s intelligence agency that she could be in line to become the country’s fourth-generation leader.

Cheong Seong-chang, vice president of the Sejong Institute think tank, saw Ms. Kim’s first appearance at the Kumsusan palace as a calculated move by her father ahead of the upcoming ruling party congress, where her succession could be formally approved.

State news agency KCNA’s photos showed Mr. Kim on January 1 with his wife, Ri Sol Ju, and senior officials, with Mrs. Kim standing between her parents in the main hall of the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun.

Hong Min, a North Korea expert at the state-run Korea Institute for National Unification, said North Korea is cultivating an image of Mr. Kim’s “stable family” by showcasing his wife and daughter at major events.

Kim Ju Ae, believed to have been born in the early 2010s, reportedly attended this year’s New Year’s celebrations on Thursday (January 1, 2026), according to state media. In September, she accompanied her father on her first public overseas trip to Beijing.

Mr. Kim visits Kumsusan on significant dates and anniversaries to pay respects to his grandfather and the country’s founder, Kim Il Sung, and his father, Kim Jong Il, thereby reinforcing the dynastic legacy of the nuclear-armed nation.

North Korea has never confirmed Kim Ju Ae’s age. A spokesperson for South Korea’s Unification Ministry declined to comment on Ms. Kim’s appearances. An official told reporters that the government believes it is premature to conclude that she is the successor, given her age and the fact that she holds no official position.

Mr. Hong said that the potential roles of Kim’s other children leave room for caution in drawing conclusions about Ms. Kim’s succession.

“It’s practically impossible to publicly designate Kim Ju Ae, who is believed to be only 13 years old, as the successor when she’s not even old enough to join the [Workers’] Party,” Mr. Hong said.