Kim Jong Un’s daughter, Ju Ae, was notably absent from the grand military parade commemorating the 80th anniversary of the Workers’ Party of Korea. This marks over a month since her last public appearance following her visit to China in early September.
North Korea’s state-run newspaper, Rodong Sinmun, reported on October 11 that the celebratory parade for the party’s 80th anniversary was held with great pomp at Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang the previous day. Sources indicate that the parade lasted approximately 90 minutes, commencing around 10:00 p.m.
Ju Ae’s attendance was a key point of speculation surrounding this parade. Her recent accompaniment of Kim during his China visit from September 2–4 had fueled discussions about her potential role as heir apparent. Had she appeared alongside foreign dignitaries from China, Russia, and Vietnam at this parade, it would have been seen as another significant indicator of North Korea’s succession plans centering on her.
However, based on reports from North Korean media outlets, it appears that Ju Ae did not participate in the parade. Her last public sighting was on September 5, when she returned to Pyongyang from Beijing with her father. This extended absence from the public eye has now continued through this major national celebration.
Ju Ae’s previous parade appearance was during the 75th anniversary of the regime’s establishment on September 8, 2023. On that occasion, she occupied a prominent position next to Kim in the reviewing stand, with military generals demonstratively kneeling and saluting her.
Analysts suggest that Kim may have deliberately kept Ju Ae out of the spotlight during this parade in order to emphasize the strengthening of ties with other socialist nations amid tensions with the U.S., rather than drawing attention to North Korea’s internal succession dynamics.
The parade was attended by high-profile foreign guests, including Chinese Premier Li Qiang, Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev, and Vietnamese Communist Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, marking an unusual gathering of foreign dignitaries at North Korea’s invitation.
Professor Lim Eul-chul from Kyungnam University’s Institute for Far Eastern Studies posits that the absence of both Ju Ae and Kim’s wife, Ri Sol-ju, may have been a calculated move to avoid shifting international focus to North Korea’s succession plans, as occurred during China’s recent Victory Day celebrations.
Some experts point out that Ju Ae’s youth and her lack of an official party position might have made it inappropriate for her to stand alongside foreign leaders. During her recent trip to China, North Korean media only showed her arrival in Beijing and her return to Pyongyang, without featuring her in any of Kim’s official engagements throughout the three-day visit.
This year is particularly significant as it concludes the Five-Year Plan for National Defense and Economic Development that Kim introduced at the 8th Party Congress in 2021. With the 9th Party Congress scheduled for early next year, the regime is focused on completing various objectives.
Professor Lim notes that the parade’s unveiling of new weapon systems, including the Hwasong-20 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) and the Cheonma-20 tank, suggests a priority on showcasing the supreme leader’s military achievements without distractions.
