Kim Jong Un’s daughter has fueled speculation after making her first public appearance outside of North Korea.
Kim Ju-ae, the daughter of the 41-year-old supreme leader, joined her father in Beijing, ahead of the President of the People's Republic of China's Victory Day parade.
Photos released by North Korean state media show the young girl marking her international debut after stepping off her father’s train in the Chinese capital, where she was welcomed by officials.
While the regime has never officially confirmed her name or age, Ju-ae is no stranger to the public eye.
She previously accompanied Jong Un on several official duties around her country, including the test launches of ballistic missiles and, more recently, the opening of Wonsan Kalma, a resort on the country’s east coast.
State media started referring to her as the leader's “respected” daughter after she appeared at an intercontinental ballistic missile launch in 2022 and attended a parade marking the founding anniversary of the Korean People’s Army.
According to The Guardian, Michael Madden, a North Korea leadership expert at the US-based Stimson Center, has said Ju-ae is the “frontrunner as next supreme leader of North Korea".
Madden notes that she is gaining “practical protocol experience” and “valuable experience greeting and interacting with foreign leadership and other elites,” which would serve her well as a future leader.
The Kim family, who have ruled North Korea since 1948, have cultivated the idea that they descend from a sacred bloodline, meaning only they can lead the country.
The timing of the young girl's appearance is particularly significant as she was present at what appeared to be the formation of a new anti-Western alliance, which analysts believe adds weight to her status as heir apparent.
Rachel Minyoung Lee, also a researcher at the Stimson Center, said: "The scope of her public appearances certainly has expanded from military-related sites to political and economic events over the years. If this is part of a succession campaign, this would certainly help with that effort as it would be seen as Kim Ju-ae’s debut on the international stage."
The notion of a female leader presents a challenge for the state, which has never been led by a woman.
However, some analysts believe Jong Un, who reportedly has three children, according to South Korea's intelligence agency, is introducing his daughter now to try to overcome this prejudice, per BBC News.
Ju-ae’s existence was first revealed by former NBA star Dennis Rodman, a friend of Kim, who claimed to have held his baby daughter during a 2013 visit to Pyongyang.
"The Marshal Kim and I had a relaxing time by the sea with his family," he said at the time. "We shared many meals and drinks where we discussed our plans to play a historic friendship basketball game between North Korea and the US as well as ways to develop their basketball team."
"I held their baby Ju-ae and spoke with Ms Ri [Sol-Ju, Kim's wife] as well. He's a good dad and has a beautiful family,'" he added.