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North Korea Publishes Photos Centering Kim Jong Un’s Daughter at Mausoleum Visit

Analysts read the New Year’s staging as a potential succession signal to watch before this year’s party congress.

Overview

  • State media reported Kim Jong Un visited the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun in Pyongyang with party officials on January 1.
  • Photos released with the report provide the first visual confirmation that his daughter took part in a palace visit.
  • The images place her at the center with Kim and his wife, Ri Sol-ju, on either side and party officials arrayed behind.
  • Outside observers note that positioning in such photos is used to infer hierarchy, and her prominence has intensified succession speculation.
  • She first appeared in official media in November 2022 and is believed to be in her early teens, with further signals expected to be monitored around this year’s five-year party congress.