Kim Jong Un, chairman of North Korea's State Affairs Commission, visited Beijing to attend the 'Victory Day' event held by China on the 3rd, accompanied by his daughter Ju-ae. Foreign media noted that Ju-ae is being designated as the successor to continue the 'fourth generation succession' from Kim Jong Un. However, North Korea did not convey any news related to Ju-ae through internal media that residents read.
In photos released by the Korean Central News Agency, Ju-ae appears as Kim Jong Un receives officials from the Chinese side. Ju-ae is standing behind Kim Jong Un. This is the first time Ju-ae has accompanied Kim Jong Un on his overseas schedule. Kim Jong Un's wife, Ri Sol-ju, has accompanied him on three visits to China.
The visit to China by Kim Jong Un and Ju-ae can be interpreted as announcing to the international community that Ju-ae is the next leader. When Kim Jong Il was designated as the successor to Kim Il Sung, father and son also visited China together for a kind of 'inauguration.'
Kim Jong Il was designated as the successor in 1974 and was recognized as the next leader at the 6th Party Congress in 1980. It is said that in 1983, Kim Il Sung took Kim Jong Il with him to China to meet former Chinese President Deng Xiaoping to ask for support for his son.
After Ju-ae appeared, Ri Sol-ju's exposure in North Korean media decreased. In May, Ju-ae attended a commemorative event at the Russian Embassy in North Korea for the 80th anniversary of Russia's Victory Day instead of Ri Sol-ju.
In June, Ri Sol-ju made an appearance at the inauguration ceremony of the Wonsan-Galma Coastal Tourist Zone after a year and a half, but she was a step behind Kim Jong Un and Kim Ju-ae. She was evaluated as having revealed the status of her successor, Ju-ae.
Kim Yo-jong, deputy director of the Labor Party and sister of Kim Jong Un, also respectfully guided her niece Ju-ae by bowing at the handover ceremony of the new tactical ballistic missile weapons systems in August of last year.
Foreign media also noted Ju-ae's accompaniment of her father Kim Jong Un's schedule in China. The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) reported on the 2nd (local time) that the moment Kim Jong Un stepped off his private train, Ju-ae, dressed neatly, followed behind him, attracting the attention of North Korean experts in South Korea.
Kim Jong Un appeared at the '80th Anniversary Victory Day Parade' event at around 9:18 a.m. on the 3rd. He got out of a black armored limousine at the端门 entrance of the Palace Museum in Beijing. His daughter Ju-ae did not appear at the scene where leaders from various countries were entering. While several leaders walked the red carpet with their spouses, Ri Sol-ju did not accompany him.
Kim Jong Un wore a black suit with a bright gold tie. Chinese President Xi Jinping welcomed Kim Jong Un, showing intimacy after shaking hands and wrapping his other hand around him. Kim Jong Un entered second to last, just before Russian President Vladimir Putin.