The issue of succession in authoritarian regimes often carries global security implications. In North Korea, the spotlight is now on Kim Ju-ae, the daughter of leader Kim Jong Un, whose appearance alongside Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing has sent shockwaves worldwide.
During the high-profile meeting, discussions revolved around organ transplants, life extension up to 150 years, and even immortality. Yet, Kim’s more practical move was to present his daughter to the world. At only 12 or 13 years old, Kim Ju-ae is already considered by South Korea’s intelligence agency as the most likely candidate to one day succeed her father.
By introducing her to Xi and Putin, Kim Jong Un delivered a clear message: the Kim dynasty will not end. According to Edward Howell, lecturer in international relations at Oxford, this carefully staged public appearance signals Ju-ae’s growing role in Pyongyang’s succession plan. If she truly is being prepared to lead, she may be the most powerful—and dangerous—girl in the world.
Since her first public appearance in November 2022, when she attended the launch of North Korea’s largest ballistic missile, Ju-ae has accompanied her father at military parades, economic, social, and cultural events. In May 2025, she made her first diplomatic debut at the Russian Embassy in Pyongyang. North Korean media now call her a “respected child”, a title reserved for future leaders.
Analysts remain divided:
- Cheong Seong-chang of the Sejong Institute argues Ju-ae is being positioned as North Korea’s “No. 2” figure, both domestically and internationally.
- Rachel Minyoung Lee of 38 North warns against overinterpreting propaganda signals, stressing that no child at her age has ever been guaranteed succession.
Kim’s sister, Kim Yo-jong, long seen as a likely successor, remains a key regime figure. However, Ju-ae’s rising profile suggests a strategic shift. Historically, North Korean leadership transitions have been unpredictable: Kim Jong-il was groomed for 14 years, while Kim Jong Un was declared heir just a month before his father’s death.
The timing raises questions. Is Kim Jong Un facing health problems, prompting him to prepare his daughter early? Or is he simply laying the groundwork for a long-term propaganda strategy to normalize the idea of a female leader in a deeply patriarchal state?
Despite uncertainty, showcasing Ju-ae offers Kim Jong Un multiple advantages:
- Reinforcing the dynasty’s continuity
- Projecting strength abroad and stability at home
- Humanizing his image as a father figure while justifying military spending
While a woman leading North Korea would be unprecedented, it is not unimaginable. Figures like Kim Yo-jong and Choe Son-hui—North Korea’s first female foreign minister—have already broken barriers.
Still, predicting North Korea’s future remains nearly impossible. Analysts must rely on propaganda clues and historical patterns, as there are no independent interviews, briefings, or public opinion polls.
For now, Kim Ju-ae remains an enigma—a child thrust into the spotlight, whose future role will be closely watched by the world.
