The Tamesis
January 14, 2026
Seoul – Speculation about North Korea’s next leader has resurfaced as Kim Jong Un’s teenage daughter, believed to be named Joo Ae, appears increasingly frequently at high-profile public events, fueling debate over whether the regime is laying the groundwork for another dynastic change.
The discussion was sparked by an article published in March 2025 in the Workers’ Party’s leading magazine Geunroja, which stressed the importance of formally naming a successor while the current leader is still alive. Although the article did not mention Zhu Ai, it emphasized the need to establish a successor leadership, ensure consensus within the party and cultivate loyalty among officials and the public – words that analysts said were noteworthy given the timing.
The article was published about a month after Joo-ae reappeared in state media after a brief hiatus, accompanying her father on a visit to a construction site in Pyongyang. She then appeared with Kim at the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun on New Year’s Day to pay tribute to the former leader for the first time, further fueling speculation that she could be positioned as a future heir.
North Korea has yet to formally name a successor, referring to Joo-ae simply as Kim Jong-un’s “beloved daughter” whenever she is mentioned in state media.
South Korean officials warned against taking Joo-ae’s public exposure as a clear signal of succession.
One Ministry of Unification official said her prominence at public events was more likely to reinforce the regime’s “socialist family” narrative – a propaganda concept that portrays the leadership as a parent figure and society as a family – rather than outlining a succession structure.
“The current model appears to focus on highlighting family symbolism rather than emphasizing the inheritance framework,” said the official, who requested anonymity. The official noted that Joo-ae was placed between her parents during the visit to the mausoleum. The official said she would be more likely to support Kim if the message was one of succession.
Joo-ae also recently attended a ceremony to plant a tree at a memorial facility honoring North Korean soldiers killed fighting alongside Russian troops in Ukraine — another highly symbolic occasion that thrust her into the spotlight.
While Seoul officials have stressed caution, some experts believe Joo-ae’s growing public profile has political implications that cannot be ignored.
Lee Sang-geun, a researcher at the Institute for National Security Strategy, said in a report published on January 7 that Joo-ae’s public appearances have reached unprecedented levels, with state media releasing images in which “Joo-ae appears in front of Kim Jong-un or occupies the center of the photo in Kim Jong-un’s position.”
“Although there are doubts about her age and gender, it is difficult to rule out the possibility of inheritance,” Lee said.
Lee noted that even in societies where women have traditionally had lower social status, the daughters or wives of powerful politicians can rise to top leadership positions. In such a system, the authority of the ruling family can offset gender barriers by strengthening political legitimacy.
“Given North Korea’s deep-rooted dynastic and monarchical political traditions, it would not be difficult for the supreme leader to designate a young child as a future heir and establish the image of the successor while providing political training,” Lee said.
He said Kim’s approach may reflect lessons he learned during his own rise to power. Unlike Kim Jong Il – who had been systematically groomed for decades under Kim Il Sung – Kim Jong Un was thrust into leadership after his father’s sudden death in 2011, leaving little time for preparation.
The early years of Kim Jong-un’s rule were fraught with instability, which he consolidated through fear, including the assassination of his half-brother Kim Jong-nam and the public execution of his uncle Jang Song-thaek. More than 140 elite figures were purged, a process that ensured authority through coercion rather than institutional legitimacy.
“Kim Jong Un may be trying to avoid a recurrence of this uncertainty by exposing his daughter early and gradually shaping her public image,” Lee said.
Others stressed that while Joo-ae’s popularity has political significance, institutional obstacles make a near-term succession unrealistic.
Hong Min, a senior researcher at South Korea’s Institute for National Unification, dismissed speculation that her adolescent daughter may soon receive an official title.
“Thirteen-year-old Zhu Ai is not qualified to be a party member, let alone hold an official position,” Hong said. “Both Kim Jong Il and Kim Jong Un joined the party as adults.”
“The party title comes with the power to perform official duties,” he added. “It is unbelievable that a minor would have such power, and such a move would lack credibility among North Korean residents.”
Hong stressed that North Korea, despite being opaque, operates according to party norms and procedures, so there is little chance of a premature grant of power.
Analysts generally agree that while Joo-ae’s succession is neither confirmed nor imminent, it remains a possibility with long-term strategic implications.
Lee predicted that efforts to shape Joo-ae’s successor could accelerate further in 2026, but warned that any formal designation would take considerable time. Steps such as an independent public event without her father may precede any official action.
“Joo Ae’s succession is not an urgent matter, but it is a major matter that cannot be ruled out,” Lee said.
For now, Joo-ae’s emergence appears to straddle the line between a symbolic family image and careful early shaping of a potential future leader — a balancing act that, according to observers, reflects both the regime’s dynastic instincts and its institutional constraints.
