Pyongyang: North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's teenage daughter, Ju-ae, has made her first public appearance at the family mausoleum, Kumsusan Palace of the Sun, to pay tribute. This debut was captured in state media images released on Friday, ahead of an imminent key party congress set for early in the year.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Ju-ae's presence at the mausoleum, where Kim's late father and grandfather are interred, has fueled speculation about her potential role in the North Korean communist dynasty's succession plans. On New Year's Day, Kim Jong-un, his wife, and Ju-ae, along with key party and government officials, attended the family mausoleum. State media photographs displayed the Kim family prominently, with Ju-ae positioned in the center between her parents.
This visit marks Ju-ae's first known attendance at the mausoleum, an event significant enough to be featured on the front page of Rodong Sinmun, the main newspaper for the domestic audience, and broadcasted by Korean Central Television. Ju-ae first appeared in North Korean state media in 2022, and her involvement in such a ceremonial occasion has drawn notable attention.
The Kumsusan Palace of the Sun houses the embalmed bodies of North Korea's founder, Kim Il-sung, and Kim Jong-il, the father of the current leader. Kim Jong-un has a tradition of visiting the mausoleum on New Year's Day, a practice established since he took power in 2012, with exceptions in 2018, 2024, and 2025.
In response to the event, Seoul's unification ministry has recognized the significance of this public visit, marking the first time Kim's daughter has been included. "We are closely watching as it is the first such visit," stated Chang Yoon-jeong, deputy spokesperson at the ministry, during a press briefing. The ministry plans to continue monitoring Ju-ae's activities closely.
The day before the mausoleum visit, Kim Jong-un, accompanied by his wife and daughter, attended a large-scale New Year's performance in Pyongyang. State-run Korean Central Television aired footage showing Ju-ae seated beside her father, dressed in a matching leather coat, engaging warmly with him during the event.