The public appearances of Kim Jong Un’s daughter, Kim Ju Ae, are more than just family photos. They are a clear and deliberate message. By showcasing her at missile sites and military events, Kim is tying the future of the Kim dynasty directly to North Korea’s nuclear program.
Since her first public appearance at a missile launch in 2022, Ju Ae has been a constant presence at her father’s side. She has inspected missiles and attended military parades. This isn’t a coincidence. By putting her at the center of North Korea’s military power, Kim is presenting her as the heir to a nuclear legacy. He wants the North Korean people and the world to see the Kim family and its nuclear weapons as one and the same — inseparable.
This approach serves a few purposes. At home, it strengthens the idea that the Kim dynasty is the only one who can protect the nation. The nuclear program, often framed as a defense against foreign threats becomes a symbol of the family’s strength. By featuring his daughter, Kim is teaching the next generation to view her and the family as the guardians of their country.
On the world stage, the message is equally clear. It shows North Korea’s unshakeable commitment to its nuclear ambitions. By bringing his daughter into the spotlight, Kim is signaling that this is a long-term, multi-generational project. It’s not a bargaining chip to be given up in future talks. It’s the family’s most important inheritance, a trust to be passed down.
While some have suggested her appearances are simply a show of fatherly love, her frequent presence at major political events points to a much more strategic motive. State media has even referred to her as “respected daughter,” a term once used for Kim himself only after he was established as the successor. This suggests she is being groomed for a significant role.
In a country where power succession is a tightly held secret, Kim Jong Un is using his daughter as a living symbol of continuity. She is the public face of the nuclear state, the heir to the bomb. The message is as chilling as it is clear: The future of North Korea (KP) and the future of the Kim dynasty are bound together by the nuclear program, a legacy that will be passed from father to daughter.
