Kim Jong-un, the leader of North Korea, his wife, Ri Sol-ju, and their daughter, Kim Ju-ae, visited the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun on January 1, marking the daughter's first public appearance at the mausoleum and intensifying speculation about her potential succession. The visit, documented in photographs released by the state news agency KCNA, showed Kim Ju-ae positioned between her parents in the main hall of the palace, where they paid respects to Kim Il-sung, the state founder and Kim Jong-un's grandfather, and Kim Jong-il, his father.
Kim Ju-ae has made increasingly prominent appearances in state media over the past three years, fueling conjecture that she is being groomed as Kim Jong-un's successor. The Kumsusan Palace of the Sun holds significant symbolic weight, as it serves as the final resting place for the two former leaders and is a site Kim Jong-un visits on key dates.
The visit occurred ahead of an unspecified event that could potentially formalize Kim Ju-ae's succession, according to reports. While North Korean state media has not explicitly named her as the heir apparent, her repeated appearances alongside her father at important events have led many analysts to believe she is being positioned for a future leadership role.
The identity of Kim Jong-un's other children remains unknown, and North Korea's leadership has historically been passed down through the male line. The possibility of a female leader would mark a significant departure from tradition. The implications of this potential shift in leadership remain to be seen, but the recent visit to the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun has further solidified Kim Ju-ae's position in the public eye and intensified the debate surrounding North Korea's future leadership.
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