World · 2 January 2026
Kim Jong-un's daughter visits sacred mausoleum, intensifying succession speculation
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The Presidential Press and Information Office via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0)
Kim Jong-un's daughter Ju Ae made her first public visit to North Korea's sacred Kumsusan Palace of the Sun on New Year's Day, standing between her parents in the mausoleum housing her grandfather and great-grandfather. The 13-year-old's appearance at the symbolic site has intensified speculation that she is being groomed as the fourth-generation leader. South Korean intelligence and analysts believe the visit signals her growing role in succession planning, with some experts suggesting she could receive a formal party position at an upcoming Workers' Party congress.
Reported by ABC News · How we write briefs