Who is Kim Jong Un's 12-year-old daughter and possible heir? Here's what we know

The possible heir and daughter of Kim Jong Un has made her international debut. Although her name and age have never been confirmed by North Korea, she is believed to be 12 years old.

The debut on Tuesday saw the father-daughter arrive in Beijing in a heavily armoured train to attend a Chinese military parade, also known as the Victory Day Parade. The duo undertook the 20-hour train ride from Pyongyang, North Korea.

Chinese President Xi Jinping hosted the event — a show of strength that places his country’s military might (hypersonic weapons, nuclear-capable missiles, and undersea drones, and thousands of soldiers, CNN reported ) in the spotlight on Wednesday. World leaders also in attendance included Russian President Vladimir Putin, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel and more than a dozen others.

Upon arrival at the Beijing Railway Station on Tuesday, Kim and his entourage were greeted by senior official from the Chinese Communist Party Cai Qi and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, the Washington Post reported. Directly behind Kim, his daughter appeared.

She wore a sleek, belted navy blazer and matching trousers. Her bangs were swept to the side with half of her hair pulled back and held together by a bow matching the colour of her suit. She wore a thin gold wrist watch.

As the 12-year-old hits the international world stage, here’s what to know.

Little is publicly known about the life of Kim Jong Un’s daughter. According to various media reports who rely on South Korean intelligence, she is believed to be called Kim Ju Ae and is around 12 years old.

Her mother, Kim’s wife, is Ri Sol Ju.

In 2013, former NBA basketball player Dennis Rodman — who travelled to North Korea and became friends with Kim — revealed the name of the supreme leader’s daughter to Western media. Rodman called Kim a “good dad,” The Guardian reported . He also said he spoke to Ri and held “their baby Ju Ae.”

Intelligence officials from South Korea have said that Ju Ae has two other siblings, including an older brother, NPR reported .

Words used by North Korean media to describe her include “beloved” and “respected.”

Ju Ae was first mentioned in North Korean media in 2022, at the launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile, per the Associated Press.

She has since been photographed alongside her father on multiple occasions. Images of her over the years have been captured by the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), and therefore can not be independently verified.

In an undated photo provided by the KCNA, Ju Ae could be seen on the sidelines as Kim boarded a transport launcher at a vehicle production plant in North Korea.

Kim and his daughter also visited the country’s aerospace agency together on May 16, 2023.

On Feb. 8, 2023, Ju Ae attended a military parade celebrating the 75th anniversary of the founding of the Korean People’s Army in Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang. Just over a month later, they watched a warhead missile launch exercise that simulated a tactical nuclear attack in Cheolsan county, North Pyongan Province.

On Jan. 7, 2024, Kim and Ju Ae were photographed together at the Gwangcheon Poultry Factory surrounded by chickens.

On June 24, 2025, Ju Ae visited Wonsan Kalma coastal tourist area in Kangwon Province. In a photo provided by the KCNA, she is standing on the beach wearing a white ensemble complete with low, beige heels.

The issue of succession is complicated. The next head of North Korea, who would be a fourth-generation leader, has not been named.

Kim was only eight years old when he was named as his father Kim Jong-il’s successor, his aunt has said, the Washington Post reported. When Kim Jong-il was 16, he accompanied his own father on an international trip in 1959 to Moscow, which was then part of the Soviet Union. Ju Ae is the youngest in the family to be “shown so publicly, in such a high-profile way, before being officially designated successor,” per the publication.

Western media points to Kim’s recent appearance with his daughter as a potential reason that she could become his heir. However, some experts have pointed out that the totalitarian country favours men in leadership positions. But it could be shifting.

“While it may not have much impact on his policy decisions in the long run, the fact that Kim Jong Un has opened doors to some women is particularly striking given the historically male representation of power and politics in North Korea,” according to 38 North , dedicated to reporting on North Korea.

Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui, a woman in power, accompanied Kim and his daughter to Beijing this week, the Korea Times reported .

There was also chatter about Kim’s sister, Kim Yo Jong, being the next in line five years ago, when she led a campaign against South Korea, North Korea expert Rachel Minyoung Lee told The Washington Post. Lee is a senior fellow for the Korea Program and 38 North at the Stimson Center in the United States.

“It’s hard to say because we’ve never had the situation before where they brought out a young Kim. So it is hard to compare … but I don’t know that that’s enough to say that this is part of the succession campaign,” Lee said.

She added that Kim could be bringing Ju Ae along to give her more exposure to the rest of the world, or to make himself relatable and seem more like a “normal leader from a normal country.”

Another expert, the Sejong Institute’s Cheong Seong-chang, told the New York Times that bringing Ju Ae to China was “a strong signal​ to the world that she ​is going to be his successor.”

A North Korea leadership expert, also at the Stimson Center, Michael Madden, told The Guardian that Ju Ae is the “frontrunner” for next supreme leader.

“She is getting practical protocol experience which should serve her well as North Korea’s next leader or a core elite,” he said.

• In photos: China shows off nukes, drones and soldiers in military parade
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