Could Kim Jong Un’s Teenage Daughter be the Heir to North Korea?
- Phoebe Chow
- Apr 26
- 2 min read
North Korea’s state media has released new photos showing the supreme leader Kim Jong Un’s teenage daughter, Kim Ju Ae, aiming a rifle and riding a tank alongside her father. She has frequently accompanied him on visits to military-industrial sites, including facilities linked to missile production and nuclear weapons development.
These appearances are unlikely to be accidental. In a system where imagery is tightly controlled, such exposure signals deliberate approval from the top. The regime’s propaganda apparatus functions as a strategic tool, shaping elite perceptions and public narratives. Elevating Kim Ju Ae into view suggests a calculated effort to normalize her presence within the symbolic core of state power.
What, then, is the Kim dynasty’s calculation?
Kim Ju Ae debuted in state media in November 2022 during the Hwasong-17 missile launch. In February 2023, she reappeared at a military parade marking the 75th anniversary of North Korea’s Military Foundation Day, which involved over 22,000 participants. Father and daughter interacted closely, with Kim Ju Ae even reaching out to hold Kim Jong Un’s cheeks—her fourth appearance at a military-related event, sparking widespread discussion.
Her debut added a softer dimension to Kim Jong Un’s image, portraying him not only as a nuclear-armed leader but also as a father. Such portrayals can humanize authoritarian rulers both domestically and internationally.
Despite speculation, however, Kim Ju Ae is unlikely to be the heir. She may instead be groomed for a supporting role, similar to her aunt Kim Yo Jong. North Korea’s leadership rests on the mythologized Baektusan bloodline within a deeply patriarchal society. A female successor would challenge entrenched norms and the ideological framework of Juche leadership. Historical precedent reinforces this: although Kim Yo Jong was rumored as a potential successor after Kim Jong Il’s 2008 stroke, power ultimately passed to Kim Jong Un.
Her visibility, however, remains significant. South Korea’s National Intelligence Service reports that Kim Jong Un has three children with Ri Sol Ju, born in 2010, 2013, and 2017. Kim Ju Ae, believed to be the middle child, has an older brother who has never appeared publicly. His absence may be intentional, echoing Kim Jong Un’s own concealed upbringing abroad.
Ultimately, Kim Ju Ae’s prominence may serve as strategic misdirection. The Kim dynasty thrives on opacity, and its succession remains deliberately obscured.
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