North Korean palace visit by Kim’s daughter renews succession debate
State media has released images of the first recorded visit of Kim Ju-ae, the teen daughter of Kim Jong-un, to the country’s most sacred site
Kim Ju-ae, believed to be around 13 years old, made her first recorded visit on Thursday to the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun, the holiest site in the country dedicated to its hereditary rule, sparking speculation she could receive an official title at a coming party congress.
While some observers see her prominent positioning in released photographs by state media as a powerful succession signal, others caution that the imagery may just be intended to project stability and family unity.
Ju-ae was accompanied by her parents on New Year’s Day to the palace in Pyongyang, where Kim Jong-un’s late father and grandfather lie in state.
While state media KCNA did not mention her by name, released pictures placed her at the forefront, flanked by her father and mother, Ri Sol-ju.
“It is remarkable that Ju-ae was placed front and centre at the sanctified palace for the first time, where visitors are arranged strictly according to rank,” Cho Han-bum, a senior researcher at the Korea Institute for National Unification (KINU), told This Week in Asia.