North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un took his daughter on a day out to a newly built chicken farm in the hermit kingdom, amid reports the youngster has been chosen as his successor.
Kim Ju Ae, believed to be 10 years old and the middle of Kim's three children, accompanied her father and senior government officials on a tour of the newly opened “model” chicken farm in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
The despot and his daughter may have celebrated his fortieth birthday, believed to be on January 8, although his secretive regime has never confirmed the date.
Preteen Ju Ae is regularly referred to as Kim's “most beloved” child by North Korean state media and has become a part of state propaganda since she first appeared just over a year ago.
The father and daughter duo kissed each other on the cheek as they celebrated the New Year in a packed stadium in Pyongyang, before touring a rocket launcher factory in matching leather jackets last week.
Kim Jong Un beamed as he toured the Kwangchon Chicken Farm with his daughter Ju Ae
Kim and his daughter check out the produce at the chicken farm in photos released on what is reportedly his 40th birthday
The father and daughter watched as workers handled chicken carcasses as they visited the farm
The dictator and his “heir apparent” were shown around the Kwangchon Chicken Farm, just south of the capital, on Sunday, donning white coats as they inspected rows of caged chickens and their signature black coats as they assessed the produce outside.
Kim is said to be pleased with the “modern” production lines at the factory, with the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reporting that he described them as “incomparable” to older farms that he previously described as “backward.”
KCNA reported on the visit that Kim was “accompanied by his respected daughter,” marking the second time state media has used a separate line to describe her presence and added the honorific, according to NK news.
State media used the same wording for Kim Jong Un in reports that he joined his father Kim Jong Il on official business in 2010 and 2011 after being officially selected as the former prime minister's successor.
Speculation is now mounting that Ju Ae could take over from her father, with South Korea's spy agency, the National Intelligence Service (NIS), saying on Friday that it considers her his likely successor.
Cheong Seong-Chang, an analyst at South Korea's private Sejong Institute, said Kim Jong Un likely believes his daughter has the ability and determination to succeed him as leader.
The young girl was surrounded by officials as she accompanied her father during their last public appearance together
The Kwangchon Chicken Farm is seen near Pyongyang, North Korea. The facility was reportedly described by Kim Jong Un as a “model” farm
Kim Jong Un is said to be happy with the 'modern' production lines at the factory, which is located south of Pyongyang
He said Kim Jong Un's obesity appears to be so severe that “it won't even be surprising if he collapses tomorrow.”
“By accompanying her father to major events, it is like learning kingship and building a human network at a young age,” Cheong said.
Ju Ae was first revealed to the world in November 2022 when she attended a ballistic missile launch with her father.
The young girl was seen arm-in-arm with Kim as he inspected weapons at a military base, and watched the launch from a distance with her mother and father, Ri Sol-ju.
Ju Ae appeared at official gatherings with her father in 2023 and also performed at military bases and factories.
During a particularly unusual family outing in December, the pair were photographed watching what North Korea said was a launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile.
Photos released this week show the young girl inspecting a major military vehicle production plant, wearing a black leather jacket with a fur trim like those worn by her father and senior regime officials.
Kim Jong Un inspected a major military vehicle production plant last week with his daughter Ju Ae
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, his daughter and an official look at what appears to be an intercontinental ballistic missile being launched from a secret location in North Korea in a photo released in December
According to state media reports, she then took center stage as Kim celebrated New Year's Eve by watching an art group perform at Pyongyang's colossal May Day Stadium.
The Pyongyang venue is believed to be the largest in the world, with a capacity of up to 150,000.
Footage from state broadcaster KCTV shows the crowd cheering as they greet Kim and his family, with Jue Ae holding her father's arm as she walks to her seat and her mother clapping and smiling next to her.
Kim responded to the roaring crowd in waves and at one point Ju was seen kissing Ae on the cheek and giving her a show of affection in return.
The performance marked the start of the new year, state-run KCNA reported, with the bells “solemnly ringing… at 12 a.m. on January 1, along with the lighting of the festive torch and the display of fireworks” in the sky above the capital.
'At the end of the performance there was a loud cheer of 'Hurrah!' because Kim Jong-un shook the room again and fireworks were set off,” says a female narrator alongside images showing artists festively waving North Korean flags.
Since its founding in 1948, North Korea has been ruled by male members of the Kim family, meaning Ju Ae would be its first female leader.
South Korean spies have previously said that Kim's eldest child, believed to be 12 years old, is a boy, although nothing else is known about him and he has never been seen in public.
The youngest child is believed to be a daughter, born around March 2017. North Korea has not confirmed whether Ju Ae has any siblings.
Cheong said it is not unusual for North Korean leaders to choose their heirs at a young age, based on who they believe will demonstrate the greatest leadership qualities.
However, questions still remain about Ju Ae's position within the line of succession, known in North Korea as the Mount Paektu Bloodline.
Kim Ju-ae, daughter of Kim Jong-un (pictured together in November 2022), is likely to be lined up as heir to the North Korean dictatorship, experts say
Kim Ju Ae has been pictured several times next to her father and North Korea's weapons arsenal since her first appearance in November 2022
She could face some competition from her aunt, Kim Yo Jong, who is seen as an emotionless and shrewd analyst and spokesperson for North Korea's leader and has been dubbed the “Red Princess.”
Kim Jong-il did not announce the existence of his own successor, Kim Jong-un, until very late in his reign, when his health was clearly deteriorating.
Kim Jong Un has faced health problems in recent years, including rumors that he had died in 2020, but these have largely subsided in recent months as he has returned to regular appearances in state media.
Kim Yo Jong is seen as an emotionless and shrewd analyst and spokesperson for the leader of North Korea and is also called the 'Red Princess'
NIS and South Korean officials have previously warned that it is too early to consider Ju Ae as her father's heir, given Kim's relatively young age.
The US government lists Kim's birth year as 1984, which makes him 40 years old this year.
The dates of birth of Kim's father and grandfather, who preceded him as rulers, are national holidays in the authoritarian state.
Kim Jong-un's presumed birth date has always passed quietly, without mention in the media or on the country's calendars.
The closest North Korea came to confirming the date was in January 2020, after authorities acknowledged that Kim had received birthday greetings from then-US President Donald Trump, although they did not mention the exact date.