Post by : Badri Ariffin

On New Year’s Day, Kim Jong Un’s daughter, Kim Ju Ae, publicly visited North Korea’s revered family mausoleum for the first time. Experts view this significant step as a clear sign of her rising status in the regime and possible future role as her father’s successor.

Images broadcast by North Korean state media on January 1 displayed the 13-year-old Kim Ju Ae in a prominent position, bowing alongside her parents at Pyongyang’s Kumsusan Palace of the Sun. The palace, which holds the embalmed remains of her grandfather, Kim Jong Il, and great-grandfather, Kim Il Sung, serves as a symbol of the country’s leadership legitimacy.

Cheong Seong-Chang, deputy director at South Korea’s Sejong Institute, highlighted the political significance of this visit as a strategic move ahead of the forthcoming Workers’ Party congress. Kim Jong Un traditionally honors key state events by paying respects at this mausoleum, reinforcing his leadership lineage.

The Workers’ Party congress, occurring every five years, is expected to outline new policy directions and reshuffle important officials. Though the specific date hasn’t been made public, intelligence from South Korea forecasts it to be scheduled for January or February. There’s mounting speculation that Kim Ju Ae may take on a notable party position, potentially even the first secretary role—second only in the party's hierarchy—although experts warn that her youth may confine her to lower-level responsibilities initially.

Since her media debut in late 2022, Kim Ju Ae has joined her father at several major events, such as military parades, missile displays, and an official trip to Beijing in September 2024. Their close bond was particularly apparent during recent New Year festivities, where she affectionately kissed Kim Jong Un.

Despite differing opinions among analysts regarding her readiness to lead, South Korea’s intelligence suggests that Kim Ju Ae is a likely heir to North Korea’s throne, signaling a potential historic change in the country’s traditionally male-dominated leadership structure.

#Global News