Key Facts
• On January 1, Kim Jong Un visited the Kumsusan Sun Palace in Pyongyang.
• The palace houses the bodies of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il.
• Photos show Kim’s daughter “Jue” attending the visit for the first time.
• Jue, likely in her early teens, stood between Kim and his wife Ri Sol Ju.
• Jue first appeared publicly in November 2022 during an ICBM test.
• She accompanied Kim on his September 2025 visit to China.
• The 9th Party Congress is expected in January or February 2026.
• Experts see Jue’s palace visit as a political move ahead of the congress.
• Sejong Institute’s Deputy Director Jung Sung Jang suggests possible key party roles for Jue.
Summary
Kim Jong Un’s daughter, known as “Jue,” made her first public visit to the Kumsusan Sun Palace, a key symbol of North Korean power, on January 1, 2026. The palace enshrines the bodies of former leaders Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il. Photographs released by the Korean Central News Agency show Jue standing prominently between her father and mother, Ri Sol Ju, signaling her rising political profile. Jue, believed to be in her early teens, first appeared publicly during an intercontinental ballistic missile test in November 2022 and accompanied Kim on his 2025 China visit. Ahead of the 9th Party Congress expected in early 2026, South Korean experts interpret her palace visit as a deliberate political act to boost her visibility and possibly prepare her for future leadership roles. Jung Sung Jang of the Sejong Institute highlights the likelihood of Jue assuming important party positions during the congress, reinforcing speculation about her as Kim’s successor.
