Ju-ae, the daughter of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, made a rare public appearance after more than 80 days. She was seen at an official event accompanied by her aunt, Kim Yo-jong, who meticulously attended to her niece, even slightly bowing to her—a possible sign that Ju-ae is being groomed as a successor.
On August 5, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported that Kim Jong-un attended a handover ceremony for a new tactical ballistic missile launch vehicle in Pyongyang on the previous day.
The released footage showed Ju-ae arriving at the event in a mature, formal attire. The evening ceremony was attended by numerous party, government, and military officials.
A notable scene captured Kim Yo-jong, the Deputy Director of the Workers’ Party of Korea, approaching Ju-ae as she followed her father to the platform, guiding her to her position. Kim Yo-jong, with a smile on her face, slightly bowed and extended her arm in a respectful manner, while Ju-ae stood straight, observing her aunt.
It is uncommon to see Kim Yo-jong, who is regarded as the second most powerful figure in North Korea, show such deference to anyone at events. Even for her brother, Kim Jong-un, such ceremonial gestures are rare unless it is a significant event. During the North Korea-Russia summit in June in Pyongyang, Kim Yo-jong was seen providing a pen to her brother and handling the agreement documents.
These actions are analyzed as indicating Ju-ae’s strong potential as Kim Jong-un’s successor.
The South Korean National Intelligence Service (NIS) stated on July 29, “North Korea is suggesting Ju-ae as a likely successor at this time and is conducting succession education,” adding that, “while adjusting the level of propaganda and the frequency of her public exposure, they are also balancing it with her private activities, conscious of the residents’ reactions to Ju-ae.”
BY SUYOUNG HA, YOUNGNAM KIM [ha.suyoung@joongang.co.kr]
