Who is Kim Ju-Ae and why has her first public visit to North Korea’s Kumsusan mausoleum sparked buzz? Check details
The Kumsusan mausoleum is one of North Korea’s most important sites, where leaders are honoured during major national anniversaries and ceremonies. Ju-ae’s appearance there has attracted attention because these events are usually attended only by top senior officials.
Who is Kim Ju-Ae?
Kim Ju-Ae is believed to have been born in the early 2010s but despite her young age, she has already made appearances at multiple high-profile events. However, North Korea has never officially confirmed her age as the country remains highly secretive, and details about the ruling family are rarely disclosed, even to its own citizens.
Recently, Kim Ju-Ae was seen during this year’s New Year celebrations and also accompanied her father to Beijing in September. This was her first known public trip outside North Korea. According to a BBC report, Kim Jong Un is thought to have three children, but Kim Ju Ae is the only one who has appeared publicly.
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What are Kim Ju-Ae’s hobbies and education?
The South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS) has told lawmakers that Kim Ju-Ae had never attended a formal educational institution and instead received education at her home in Pyongyang, reports Associated Press. Her hobbies reportedly include horseback riding, skiing and swimming. The agency reportedly stated that she was “very good at horseback riding.” In January 2024, the NIS said it viewed Kim Ju Ae as her father’s likely heir.
The increasing presence of Kim Ju-Ae at public events had led to a speculation about what lies for her future. On New Year, Kim Ju-Ae, along with her parents Kim Jong-un and Ri Sol-ju, visited the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun where the family paid respects to former leaders Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il. State media photographs show Kim Ju-Ae standing between her parents in the main hall, a placement that experts suggest is symbolically important, as reported by The Guardian.
Cheong Seong-chang, vice-president of the Sejong Institute think tank, has pointed out that Kim Ju-Ae’s first public visit to the Kumsusan mausoleum appears to be a deliberate move by Kim Jong-Un ahead of the ruling party’s upcoming Congress, where her succession could be formally addressed, according to The Guardian. The report also cited Hong Min, a North Korea expert at the Korea Institute for National Unification, who said the country has been projecting an image of a stable leadership family by regularly featuring Kim’s wife and daughter alongside him at major public events.ALSO READ: Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella calls for a big AI reset in 2026, says we need to move beyond…
A look at her public appearances
Kim Ju Ae was first publicly introduced in 2022, when she accompanied her father to an intercontinental ballistic missile launch, reported AFP. Since then, she has appeared alongside him at multiple official events, marking a steady rise in her public profile.
In September 2025, she travelled to Beijing with Kim Jong Un on her first known overseas trip. More recently, during New Year’s Day celebrations earlier this week, she was seen kissing her father on the cheek, a moment that showed their closeness, reported AP. According to AFP, North Korean state media have referred to her as “the beloved child” and as a “great person of guidance,” or “hyangdo” in Korean. This phrase is traditionally reserved for senior leaders and their successors.
