(News Focus) N. Korea's Kim brings teenage daughter to center stage at military parade

▲ North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (R), alongside his daughter Ju-ae, attends a military parade at Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang on Feb. 25, 2026, to mark the ninth congress of the ruling Workers' Party, in this photo released by the North's official Korean Central News Agency the next day. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)

▲ North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (R, front) walks down the stairs alongside his daughter Ju-ae during a military parade at Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang on Feb. 25, 2026, to mark the ninth congress of the ruling Workers' Party, in this photo released by the North's official Korean Central News Agency the next day. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)

▲ North Korean leader Kim Jong-un acknowledges the crowd during a military parade at Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang on Feb. 25, 2026, to mark the ninth congress of the ruling Workers' Party, in this photo released by the North's official Korean Central News Agency the next day. Kim's daughter Ju-ae is standing behind him to the right. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)

(News Focus) NK leader-daughter

(News Focus) N. Korea's Kim brings teenage daughter to center stage at military parade

By Yi Wonju

SEOUL, Feb. 27 (Yonhap) -- The teenage daughter of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, Ju-ae, drew renewed attention as she took center stage with her father at this week's military parade that wrapped up the North's key party congress, further reinforcing views that she may be in line to lead the communist dynasty.

In a symbolic display underscoring her rising standing, Ju-ae was seen next to Kim attending the nighttime parade in Pyongyang on Wednesday to mark the conclusion of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea's ninth party congress, a key party meeting that outlines the country's five-year plans and goals.

Footage released by North Korean media showed Ju-ae, clad in a leather jacket similar to her father's, standing beside him at the center of the viewing stand.

Ju-ae, believed to be in her early teens, has been widely seen as a potential successor as she has increasingly appeared alongside her father at major domestic events, drawing attention to whether she will take the North Korean leadership, which has been ruled by the Kim family for eight decades.

Earlier this month, South Korea's spy agency stepped up its assessment of Ju-ae's succession prospects, saying she may be positioned to succeed Kim as state leader, compared with its previous evaluation of her as the "most likely successor."

Footage of the event captured several moments of Kim speaking with Ju-ae and pointing toward the parade. At one point, she was seen occupying the center of a staircase, while Kim climbed down the stairs at the side, holding the handrail.

The Rodong Simun, the North's main newspaper targeting the domestic audience, also published several photos of Kim and his daughter standing together as he encouraged the troops, further emphasizing her presence.

The party congress had drawn attention over whether Ju-ae will receive a formal title at the party event.

However, North Korean state media did not report any public appearances by her during the event until her attendance at the military parade.

Experts said Ju-ae's presence at the military parade and taking the central position at the viewing stand may be intended to highlight her status as a potential successor.

Shin Jong-woo, secretary-general of the Korea Defense and Security Forum (KODEF), said the military parade was notably different from that of the past as Kim had previously entered Kim Il-sung Square from behind before taking his position on the viewing stand.

"This time, Kim entered the square with Ju-ae and took his place at the viewing stand, while the troops and North Koreans were already assembled," he said. "This appears intended to highlight the image of a great leader and the hereditary succession."

Unlike previous military parades, North Korea did not display any of its key weapons systems, such as the Hwasong-20 intercontinental ballistic missile unveiled last October, at this year's military parade. Instead, the parade featured aerial performances and 50 formations of marching troops, including those from overseas operations and engineering units, which have been deployed to support Russia's war against Ukraine.

In his speech, Kim warned that North Korea will carry out "terrible retaliatory attacks" against any force committing hostile military acts against the North.

At the party congress, however, Kim left the door open to dialogue with the United States if Washington drops its hostile policy against Pyongyang while rejecting South Korea's conciliatory gestures as "deceptive."

Ju-ae's attendance at the parade marked her first appearance at such an event since September 2023, when she participated in the event commemorating the 75th anniversary of North Korea's founding. At the time, she was also seated beside her father in a special section of the viewing stands.

More recently, she has increasingly been seen positioned at the center of state media coverage of major events amid growing speculation about her succession.

During a visit to the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun on New Year's Day, she stood at the center, between Kim and his wife, Ri Sol-ju, as they paid tribute to the late North Korean leaders and her ancestors at the family mausoleum, rekindling speculation she may be the heir apparent to Kim. North Korea has made no official announcement yet.

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