North Korean leader's daughter sparks succession speculation with mausoleum visit

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s daughter, Ju Ae, made her first visit to the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun, the mausoleum housing her grandfather and great-grandfather, on Friday.

The visit has fueled speculation that the reportedly 13-year-old could be positioned as her father’s successor, possibly even named to a high-level post at the upcoming Workers’ Party congress. Kim Jong Un, his wife Ri Sol Ju, and Ju Ae visited the site in Pyongyang on January 1, 2026, to mark the New Year, state media KCTV reported.