Kim Ju-ae Makes First Public Visit to Kumsusan Mausoleum, Intensifying Succession Signaling

Overview

• North Korea’s KCNA confirmed Kim Ju-ae joined her parents at the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun on Jan. 1, with state photos placing her prominently during the visit.
• The visit paid respects to Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il, a ritual that underscores the regime’s dynastic narrative.
• State media have increasingly used honorifics for Ju-ae, including “beloved daughter” and “hyangdo,” terms typically reserved for top leaders and heirs.
• Experts, including Sejong Institute’s Cheong Seong-chang, describe the appearance as a calculated move ahead of a Workers’ Party congress where her future role could be discussed.
• Her exact age is unconfirmed and specialists say party rules constrain any formal designation for now, even as South Korea’s intelligence agency has assessed her as first in line after high-profile outings such as a Beijing trip.