So, who is the preteen girl predicted to be next in line in the most secretive state on Earth? Here’s everything we know.

The Kim family’s history

Jong-un, 42, has faced many rumours about ill health – with information coming out of North Korea notoriously difficult to verify.

5 of the richest US presidential hopefuls in 2024 – net worths, ranked

The Kim dynasty is a three-generation lineage ruling North Korea, with the family being descendants of the country’s founder and first leader, Kim Il-sung.

While no one can say for sure whether Ju-ae will become the next leader, her appearance at major events shows that she is being groomed as such.

The Dennis Rodman connection

Ju-ae was first identified as Jong-un’s daughter after Rodman revealed he had held the baby – and mentioned her name – during a visit to Pyongyang.

“I held their baby Ju-ae and spoke with Ms Ri [Sol-ju, Jong-un’s wife] as well. He’s a good dad and has a beautiful family. Kim is a great guy, he loves basketball, and he’s interested in building trust and understanding through sport and cultural exchanges,” Rodman told The Guardian at the time.

5 things to know about Euphoria star Sydney Sweeney’s parents

It is speculated that Jong-un has two other children, with rumours that one of them may have some kind of disability.

Thanks to the Rodman reveal, Ju-ae is now estimated to be around 10 years old.

Is her name really Kim Ju-ae?

Although Jong-un’s daughter is referred to as Ju-ae, last year Business Insider quoted a retired South Korean spy saying that Rodman got the child’s name wrong in The Guardian interview that introduced her to the world. According to the former intelligence officer, the tween’s name is likely Eun-ju, and it was a miscommunication between Kim and Rodman that resulted in the name now commonly spotted in the media.

However, Radio Free Asia reported last year that other citizens in North Korea called Ju-ae are being forced to change their names – suggesting that the original name could be correct after all.

5 breakout nepo babies of 2023, from Lily-Rose Depp to Hailey Bieber

Ju-ae’s first public outing

The world got its first glimpse of Ju-ae in November 2022 when she observed a long-range missile test launch. Wearing black trousers and a white puffer jacket with red shoes, the girl walked beside her father, seeming to show their close relationship.

Ju-ae is also referred to as Jong-un’s “most beloved” or “precious” child by North Korean state media.

Over the past year, she has attended military parades and was at a New Year’s Eve celebration, where she and her father exchanged a kiss on the cheek.

Sending a message

North Korean commentators have explained how Ju-ae’s public appearances – including at the test launch of North Korean ballistic missiles – have been carefully choreographed to portray a message of strength.

Al Jazeera last year quoted Fyodor Tertitskiy, a leading North Korean scholar, as saying that the heir apparent was presented “like a symbol of power because the first time she appeared was near missiles, and missiles are probably the biggest symbol of North Korea’s military”.

“The idea is, look how stable we are,” Tertitskiy continued. “No one can attack us because we have these missiles … and our system can last for another generation.”

Meet Alexa Dell, ‘nepo baby’ kid of billionaire tech tycoon Michael Dell

The preteen looks every bit the beloved daughter. Usually attired in formal wear and with her hair half-up, Ju-ae tends to wear trousers with a belted jacket during public appearances. She always has a smile ready for her dad, too.

Life as Kim Ju-ae

Little is known about the life Ju-ae leads. According to the National Intelligence Service (NIS), the chief intelligence agency of South Korea, the tween is home schooled, and enjoys horse riding, swimming and skiing.

Although her father has not formally made her his heir, Ju-ae’s strategically growing profile indicates that she is being groomed to be the next supreme leader.

What about public perception?

Although referred to as “most beloved” by state media, some reports – perhaps unsurprisingly – indicate a resentment among North Koreans towards Jong-un’s doted-on daughter. Commentators have noted Ju-ae’s expensive clothes, and fair and plump face, pointing out that many children in North Korea are continuing to go hungry.