Kim Jong Un, North Korea’s leader, gave the world a glimpse into his closely guarded family life. On November 18, 2022, Kim’s daughter appeared beside him at the launch of a Hwasong-17 intercontinental ballistic missile, marking her debut on the global stage in an unexpected setting. Dressed in a puffy white coat with bright red shoes, she stood out against the harsh, military atmosphere—a child amidst the gravity of one of North Korea’s most powerful missile tests. The unusual display immediately raised questions: Who was she? And why was she there?
Although North Korean state media kept her name under wraps, analysts and South Korean intelligence sources believe she is Kim Ju Ae, Kim Jong Un’s second child, around 9 or 10 years old at the time. Her public introduction at such a symbolic event sparked immediate curiosity. In a country where lineage and family legacy are fundamental to power, it seemed that Kim might be hinting at something beyond just a missile launch. Could this young girl be a future leader of North Korea? Or was this a symbolic move, a reminder that the Kim family would remain at North Korea’s helm?
The setting of her appearance was significant. The Hwasong-17 ICBM, the missile tested that day, represents one of North Korea’s most powerful weapons, capable of reaching the U.S. mainland. For Kim, who has built much of his rule around advancing North Korea’s nuclear capabilities, placing Ju Ae in the spotlight at this very moment could have been a way of tying his family’s future to the nation’s nuclear ambitions. It was as if he were signaling that his legacy—and perhaps even his daughter’s—would be deeply entwined with the weapons program that defines his leadership.
What little is known about Ju Ae and her siblings has only added to the intrigue. She is thought to be the middle child of Kim and his wife Ri Sol-ju, born around 2013. Kim reportedly has three children, but details about them are scarce. His oldest, a son believed to be around 13, has never been publicly introduced. His youngest, born in 2017, is still a mystery, with even the child’s gender unconfirmed. These tight controls around his children’s lives are part of the Kim family’s carefully maintained image, adding weight to every rare public appearance they make.
Ju Ae’s sudden entry onto the world stage has left analysts speculating about Kim Jong Un’s intentions. Some see her debut as a calculated message to both North Korea’s citizens and the international community—a signal that the Kim dynasty is secure for yet another generation. Others suggest it could be an attempt to soften Kim’s global image by showcasing his role as a father, adding a rare personal dimension to a leader typically viewed in severe, militaristic terms. Whatever the intent, her appearance stirred immediate curiosity and raised questions about her potential role in North Korea’s future.
In North Korea, a family appearance is never purely personal. For decades, the Kim family has maintained its grip on the nation by linking its name to the country’s most powerful symbols. Now, by having his daughter at the missile test site, Kim Jong Un was making an unforgettable statement: that the Kim legacy endures, and with it, the nation’s nuclear trajectory. In this rare moment, Kim allowed the world a brief glimpse into his family—and a reminder that even in the most private matters, the Kim family’s power and North Korea’s future remain closely connected.
In a country where so little is shared, these rare public gestures become powerful symbols. With Ju Ae by his side, Kim Jong Un’s display at the missile launch was both a show of strength and a message to the world that the Kim dynasty will remain at North Korea’s helm for years to come. The young girl in the white coat and red shoes is now part of that story, a figure on whom international eyes are likely to linger for a long time to come.
