North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s teenage daughter Ju-ae visited the family mausoleum for the first time, joining her father at the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun. The visit, captured in state media images, has sparked speculation about her role in the communist dynasty’s potential succession.
Accompanied by Kim, his wife, and key officials, Ju-ae was seen standing in the front row at the mausoleum. This marked her first public appearance at the site, following her debut in North Korean state media in 2022. The visit was not explicitly mentioned by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), but photos showed the family together.
The mausoleum houses the embalmed bodies of Kim Il-sung, the North’s founder and Kim Jong-un’s grandfather, and Kim Jong-il, the former leader and Kim’s father. Kim Jong-un traditionally pays respects at the mausoleum on New Year’s Day, with this year marking his first public visit with his daughter. The significance of this visit is being closely monitored by Seoul’s unification ministry.
Kim Jong-un and his family also attended a celebratory performance in Pyongyang, where Ju-ae was seen seated next to her father. Video footage showed her sharing moments with Kim, including holding his hand and kissing him on the cheek after the New Year’s countdown.
