North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's recent visit to Beijing, accompanied by his daughter Kim Ju Ae, has intensified discussions about her potential role as a successor. Kim Ju Ae's presence at a major military parade in the Chinese capital on September 3, 2025, marked her first known public appearance outside North Korea. This high-profile international debut, alongside leaders such as Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin, is widely interpreted as a deliberate move to cultivate a future leadership narrative for the Kim dynasty.
South Korea's National Intelligence Service (NIS) has assessed that Kim Ju Ae's participation in the China visit was instrumental in solidifying her position as a likely successor. Although she reportedly maintained a low public profile during the trip, staying within the North Korean Embassy and minimizing direct exposure, her presence was strategically communicated through state media. Documentary footage and photographs served to reinforce the narrative necessary for a successor within North Korea.
The visit underscored the strengthening geopolitical ties between North Korea, China, and Russia. Kim Jong Un's attendance at the parade, his first multilateral event in 45 years, signaled a unified front against perceived Western-led global pressures. This gathering facilitated bilateral discussions, including meetings between Kim Jong Un and Xi Jinping, highlighting Beijing's intent to reaffirm and bolster its relationship with Pyongyang.
Kim Ju Ae's international debut follows a series of carefully orchestrated domestic appearances, where she has been presented alongside her father at significant events, including missile tests and military parades. North Korean state media has increasingly referred to her with titles such as "respected daughter" and "beloved child," terms typically reserved for those in positions of leadership or destined for it. Analysts suggest these consistent public engagements are designed to familiarize the North Korean populace with her image and role, laying the groundwork for a potential hereditary power transfer.
While speculation about Kim Jong Un's potential heirs has persisted, the NIS has indicated that claims of other offspring are not considered credible. The agency's assessment points to Kim Ju Ae's prominent role as evidence of her intended succession. The meticulous planning surrounding the trip, including measures to protect biometric data, further emphasizes the strategic importance placed on this unfolding chapter of North Korean leadership continuity.