Dressed For Succession? Kim Jong Un, Daughter Fuel Speculation With Matching Coats

Last Updated:February 26, 2026, 12:21 IST

The North Korean leader's teenage daughter featured prominently in state photos published to mark the closing stages of the ruling Workers' Party congress.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un donned a matching jacket with his daughter, known as Kim Ju Ae, at a military parade, intensifying speculation that she is being groomed as his successor.

The North Korean leader’s teenage daughter featured prominently in state photos published to mark the closing stages of the ruling Workers’ Party congress. The duo donned matching leather jackets as they stood side-by-side to watch over a vast military procession, news agency AFP reported.

Ju Ae was also seen walking on a red carpet next to her father as he received salutes from senior military officials, further highlighting her prominent role at the event. Kim’s wife, Ri Sol Ju, also appeared alongside the duo in a similar attire.

Analysts said that the choice of matching leather jackets — a signature look associated with Kim during key public appearances — may carry symbolic meaning.

“In North Korea’s political symbolism, that look carries weight," analyst Lim Eul-chul told the news agency, noting that it is linked to the image of the leader as guarantor of national security and prosperity. “When that same attire is put on his young daughter, it is unlikely to be accidental."

Ju Ae was first introduced publicly in 2022 when she accompanied her father to an intercontinental ballistic missile launch. Since then, she has appeared at several high-profile events, including weapons tests, factory visits and diplomatic engagements.

Attention intensified last month when she joined her parents at Pyongyang’s Kumsusan Palace of the Sun, the mausoleum housing the embalmed bodies of her grandfather Kim Jong II and great-grandfather Kim II Sung. Analysts viewed the visit as a powerful symbolic gesture, suggesting she was being presented as heir before the country’s founding leaders.

Despite her prominence, North Korean state media have never officially named her, referring only to Kim’s “respected" or “most beloved" child. The name Kim Ju Ae is widely believed based on remarks by former NBA star Dennis Rodman, who said he met Kim’s baby daughter during a 2013 visit to Pyongyang. South Korean intelligence believes she was born that year.

Ju Ae has drawn attention for her taste in luxury fashion, appearing in Gucci sunglasses and wearing a Cartier watch. At other times, she has mirrored her father’s distinctive style, wearing matching leather jackets and dark glasses.

Recently, South Korea’s spy agency said that Kim had chosen his teenage daughter Ju Ae as his heir, potentially extending the Kim family’s rule into a fourth generation.

(With inputs from agencies)

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