North Korean leader Kim Jong-un arrived in Beijing early this week and, for the first time on an overseas trip, brought along his daughter, Kim Ju-ae. The pair joined a Wednesday military parade alongside leaders from more than 20 countries, a move analysts say signals that Kim is preparing the 12-year-old as his eventual successor while tightening ties with China and Russia.
Key Takeaways
- Kim Ju-ae accompanied Kim Jong-un to Beijing, her first known foreign trip with her father.
- The duo attended a military parade on Wednesday with leaders from 20+ countries.
- Analysts in Seoul say her appearance abroad suggests deliberate succession signaling.
- Kim met Russia’s Vladimir Putin after the parade; talks lasted about 2.5 hours at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse.
- Russian outlets reported Putin thanked Kim for aid to the Ukraine war, including troops and weapons; this claim has not been independently verified.
- Kim praised the bilateral alliance treaty he and Putin signed in Pyongyang last year.
- This was Kim’s first visit to China in six years, underscoring a renewed push to showcase partnership.
Verified Facts
Kim Jong-un traveled by special train to Beijing Railway Station on Tuesday,
Kim Ju-ae, believed to be 12, is the only one of Kim’s children regularly featured in North Korean media, which has referred to her with the honorific “dear daughter.” Since late 2022, she has appeared at military parades, weapons tests, and other high-profile domestic events.
Bringing her to China—a key patron and North Korea’s most important ally—marks an escalation in her public role. Yang Moo-jin of the University of North Korean Studies characterized the trip as a staged introduction to China’s leadership. Cheong Seong-chang of the Sejong Institute said the Beijing optics suggested she was treated as North Korea’s No. 2 both at home and abroad.
Following Wednesday’s parade, Kim and President Vladimir Putin traveled together in Putin’s car to the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse for talks lasting roughly two and a half hours, according to Russian media. Those reports said Putin thanked Kim for aiding Russia’s war in Ukraine, including with personnel and munitions. Kim, for his part, emphasized the value of the alliance treaty he and Putin signed in Pyongyang last year.
Kim Jong-un himself was designated heir by his father, Kim Jong-il, at a young age, though that status was not publicly acknowledged until after the elder Kim suffered a stroke in 2008—an historical parallel analysts cite when reading Ju-ae’s rapid elevation.
Context & Impact
Kim’s Beijing appearance capped years of repositioning from isolated pariah to a player leveraging great-power competition. Closer alignment with China—and deepening engagement with Russia amid the Ukraine war—has afforded Pyongyang diplomatic cover and bargaining power, even as United Nations sanctions remain in place.
Showcasing a potential heir at a multilateral event sends several messages: continuity to Beijing, deterrent resolve to adversaries, and regime stability to domestic elites. It also tests international reactions to the prospect of a fourth generation of Kim family rule.
If sustained, this public grooming could reshape diplomatic planning in Seoul, Washington, and Tokyo, where officials assess leadership succession scenarios when calibrating deterrence, sanctions, and engagement strategies.
Official Statements
Helping Russia is a fraternal duty, and if there is more we can do, we will do it.
Kim Jong-un, as reported by Tass
Putin thanked Kim for assistance to Russia’s war effort, including personnel and weapons.
Summary of Russian state media accounts
Unconfirmed
- Exact age and birthdate of Kim Ju-ae remain unverified; 12 is the widely cited estimate.
- Pyongyang has not formally designated a successor.
- Specifics of any North Korean troop deployments to Ukraine are unverified by independent sources.
- Full details of the Putin–Kim discussions at Diaoyutai were not disclosed.
Bottom Line
By unveiling Kim Ju-ae on a high-profile foreign stage, Pyongyang is signaling succession planning while showcasing closer alignment with Beijing and Moscow. The display reinforces regime continuity at home and leverages geopolitical rifts abroad—developments regional capitals will factor into strategy and deterrence planning.