Kim Ju-ae Expands Public Role: Pistol shooting and Participates in Missile Launch

Kim Ju-ae, the daughter of North Korean Chairman Kim Jong-un,  has expanded the scope of her public activities since March. 

She has personally participated in pistol firing, attended an event marking International Women’s Day, and observed the launch of a strategic cruise missile conducted by the navy. In addition, photographs of Ju-ae have reportedly appeared on a photo display board at the North Korean embassy in China. These developments are widely interpreted as part of an effort to highlight Ju-ae’s presence as a potential successor both domestically and internationally.

Rodong Sinmun reported on the 12th that President Kim Jong Un inspected a military factory producing portable light weapons, including pistols, together with his daughter Ju-ae, during which he fired the weapons. Ju-ae also attended an event on the 27th of last month where newly developed sniper rifles produced by the Academy of National Defence Science were presented as gifts to key party officials and senior military commanders, and she personally fired one of the sniper rifles.

Photographs released by North Korea depict President Kim and Ju-ae wearing matching leather jackets while firing pistols. President Kim fired independently, whereas Ju-ae fired alongside military officials accompanying the inspection.

The regime’s repeated recent coverage of Ju-ae participating in shooting activities is widely interpreted as an effort to underscore her image as a potential future leader to the domestic audience.

On the 11th, Rodong Sinmun also reported that President Kim had observed the test launch of a strategic cruise missile via video link the previous day and released photographs showing Ju-ae accompanying him. In the images, Ju-ae—wearing a leather jacket and a headband—can be seen watching the same screen alongside President Kim.

Ju-ae also attended an event commemorating International Women’s Day, during which Chairman Kim delivered a congratulatory speech—the first time he has done so at such an occasion. He drew particular attention by appearing alongside his wife, Ri Sol-ju, and their daughter.

According to the Korean Central News Agency on March 9, Chairman Kim attended a performance at the Pyongyang Gymnasium commemorating International Women’s Day on March 8, during which he delivered a speech.

In his remarks, Chairman Kim stated that, not long after the Ninth Party Congress, the celebration of International Women’s Day prompted him to reflect on the extraordinary—and often unseen—efforts of the women of the country that contributed to national achievements.

He expressed deep gratitude for their dedication and sincerity toward both the nation and their families. Kim further emphasized that the warm support of women inspires husbands and children to excel in their workplaces, and that the unique strength, talent, and self-sacrificing devotion of women accelerate the advancement of the revolution.

Chairman Kim further underscored the role of women in society, stating that they would continue to play a central role in fostering a more harmonious and prosperous country, and that their contributions to the development of socialist society are irreplaceably important.

Photographs released that day showed Chairman Kim holding hands with Ju-ae while watching the performance, with Ju-ae seated between him and Ri Sol-ju. In the front row of the audience were Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui, a prominent figure among North Korean women officials; Ri Chun-hee, the longtime anchor widely regarded as the face of Korean Central Television; and Kim Yo-jong, director of the Party’s General Department and Chairman Kim’s sister.

Although Chairman Kim has attended International Women’s Day performances in the past, this occasion marked the first time he appeared with both his wife and daughter. It was also the first time he delivered a speech at such a commemorative event.

In response, Unification Ministry spokesperson Yoon Min-ho noted during a regular briefing that the event appeared intended to emphasize the role of women in promoting the comprehensive development of socialism following the Ninth Party Congress, while simultaneously projecting the image of a “socialist extended family.”

Amid these developments, the North Korean Embassy in Beijing also updated the photographs displayed on its external bulletin board, prominently featuring images of Chairman Kim with his daughter Ju-ae. The repeated inclusion of Ju-ae in the embassy’s external display has led analysts to interpret the move as an effort to highlight her symbolic role as a potential successor.

On March 11, the bulletin board next to the main gate of the North Korean Embassy in Beijing’s Chaoyang District displayed a recent replacement of 25 photographs, including the central image, arranged with 12 images on each side. At the center of the display is a portrait of Chairman Kim taken after his election as General Secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea at the Eighth Party Congress in January 2021.

Among the photographs, three images featuring Chairman Kim with Ju-ae drew particular attention. Newly posted images include a photo of Chairman Kim inspecting the Gwangchon Poultry Farm with Ju-ae on January 7, 2024, and another showing them attending the completion ceremony of the Kangdong Comprehensive Greenhouse on March 15 of the same year.

A photograph from the completion ceremony of a hotel in Samjiyon near Mount Paektu in December of last year was also repositioned. All of these images were arranged along the central axis of the display board.

This marks the second occasion that Ju-ae has been featured on the embassy’s bulletin board. Last month, a photograph of Chairman Kim and Ju-ae together occupied the central position on the board. Ahead of the Day of the Shining Star on February 16, which commemorates the birthday of the late Chairman Kim Jong Il, the display was replaced with content focused on Kim Jong Il. About one month later, photographs featuring Ju-ae have once again returned to the board.

These developments are widely seen as an effort to expand Ju-ae’s public role and reinforce her status as a potential successor, both within North Korea and on the international stage.