North Korea has released a rare photograph showing leader Kim Jong Un’s teenage daughter, Kim Ju Ae, firing a rifle at a shooting range, fuelling speculation that she may be groomed as his successor.
The image, published by Pyongyang’s official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on Saturday, shows Ju Ae aiming a sniper rifle outdoors, finger poised on the trigger as smoke rises from the barrel. She was dressed in a leather jacket—a style often worn by both her and her father at significant political events, symbolising authority and legitimacy.
The release comes shortly after Ju Ae appeared in high-profile public outings, including this week’s military parade marking the closing stages of North Korea’s key party congress. South Korea’s intelligence agency has indicated that Pyongyang may have begun the process of designating Ju Ae as Kim Jong Un’s successor.
The KCNA report also highlighted Kim presenting new sniper rifles to senior party and military officials as a gesture of “absolute trust,” followed by a visit to a shooting range where he fired the rifles alongside officials. Ju Ae’s presence and handling of the weapon have been interpreted as a sign of succession training. “These photos suggest she is indeed receiving training as a successor,” said Yang Moo-jin, former president of the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul.
In addition, KCNA announced that Kim Yo Jong, Kim’s powerful sister, will head the party’s general affairs department—a position analysts liken to party secretary-general.
The Kim family has maintained a tight grip over North Korea for decades, with a strong cult of personality centred on the “Paektu bloodline” dominating the country’s political and social life.
This latest release underscores the regime’s continued emphasis on family legacy and the preparation of the next generation for leadership roles.