Kim Jong-un Arrives in Beijing with Daughter, Sparking Speculation of Grooming Kim Ju-ae as Successor

Kim Jong-un and his daughter Kim Ju-ae (Free images)

[People News] 4 p.m. on September 2, Beijing time, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s armored train arrived in the Chinese capital. He was welcomed at Beijing Railway Station by Cai Qi, a member of the CCP Politburo Standing Committee and director of the General Office of the CCP Central Committee, along with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.

Photos released by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) showed Kim accompanied by his daughter, Kim Ju-ae (transliteration). The report did not mention whether his wife, Ri Sol-ju, or his sister, Kim Yo-jong, traveled with him.

This marks Kim Jong-un’s first visit to Beijing in six years and eight months, since January 2019.

According to Yonhap News Agency, it is unusual for North Korean state media to report Kim’s overseas trips in real time. For example, when Kim traveled to Russia on September 10, 2023, KCNA only reported the trip two days later, on September 12. This time, however, coverage began as soon as he departed.

On September 2, KCNA reported: “On September 1, Kim Jong-un departed by special train to attend the 80th anniversary celebrations of China’s Victory Day.” The report noted that senior officials, including Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui, were accompanying him.

The Workers’ Party newspaper Rodong Sinmun further reported that Kim’s train had crossed the border early in the morning of September 2. Photos revealed the presence of Choe Son-hui and International Department head Kim Song-nam among his entourage.

The fact that Kim brought his daughter to attend the parade has sparked speculation that he is paving the way for her succession.

Kim Ju-ae has made numerous high-profile appearances in recent years, fueling speculation she could become the fourth-generation heir of the Kim dynasty.

However, according to Chosun Ilbo, South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS) told the National Assembly’s intelligence committee that while there is no concrete evidence, “intelligence suggests Kim Jong-un’s first child is a son, and this is being further verified.”

The NIS added that Kim is believed to have a third child, though the gender is unknown. In other words, the eldest is reportedly a son, the second is Kim Ju-ae, and the third remains unconfirmed.

The NIS also stated that Kim’s son has never been seen in public: “Some believe the son may have physical or mental health issues, but we have no information to confirm this.”

In recent years, Kim Ju-ae has appeared alongside her father at multiple public events, including attending the intercontinental ballistic missile test on October 31, 2024, inspecting the Wonsan-Kalma coastal tourist area, and participating in New Year’s Eve celebrations on December 31.

Observers note that North Korean propaganda outlets have referred to Kim Ju-ae with honorifics such as “respected” and “beloved,” which could be an attempt to cement her image as the designated successor. The NIS commented: “We believe the main purpose of this propaganda is to normalize and legitimize a fourth-generation hereditary succession, which explains the praise directed at Kim Ju-ae.”