The daughter of the North Korean ruler, Kim Jong-un, who is likely being prepared as his successor has accompanied her parents on her first public visit to the Kumsusan mausoleum to pay respects to former leaders, ahead of an event that could see her succession formalised.
Photos from state news agency KCNA showed Kim Jong-un accompanied by his wife, Ri Sol-ju, and senior officials on the visit on 1 January, with Ju-ae between her parents in the main hall of the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun.
The North Korean leader visits Kumsusan to honour his grandfather, state founder Kim Il-sung, and his father, Kim Jong-il, on key dates and anniversaries.
Kim Ju-ae has been making increasingly prominent appearances in state media over the past three years, fuelling speculation by analysts and South Korea’s intelligence agency that she is in line to be the country’s fourth-generation dictator.
Cheong Seong-chang, vice-president at the Sejong Institute thinktank, viewed Ju-ae’s first public visit to the Kumsusan palace as a calculated move from her father, ahead of the upcoming ruling party congress at which her succession might be formalised.
Hong Min, an expert on North Korea at the state-run Korea Institute for National Unification, said North Korea had been portraying an image of Kim’s “stable family” by showing his wife and daughter with him at major events.
However, the potential roles of Kim’s other children have left room for caution in drawing conclusions about Ju-ae’s succession, Hong said.
“It’s practically impossible to publicly designate Kim Ju-ae, who is believed to have just turned 13, as the successor when she’s not even old enough to join the [Workers’] party,” Hong said.
Kim Ju-ae, who is believed to have been born in the early 2010s, attended this year’s New Year celebrations, according to state media. In September, she travelled to Beijing with her father on her first public overseas outing.
North Korea has never confirmed her age.
With Reuters
