Wed Sep 03 02:30:00 UTC 2025: ## Kim Jong-un and Daughter Attend China’s Grand Military Parade, Hinting at Succession
**Beijing, China** – North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, accompanied by his daughter Kim Ju-ae, arrived in Beijing Tuesday to attend China’s largest-ever military parade commemorating the “Victory Day of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression.” The parade, scheduled for Wednesday, will see Kim stand alongside Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and other world leaders.
Footage shows Kim and his daughter disembarking from an armored train at Beijing’s railway station. This marks Kim Ju-ae’s first public appearance outside of North Korea, further fueling speculation that she is being groomed as his successor. South Korean intelligence agencies have previously identified her as the “most likely” candidate to inherit the leadership.
Kim’s heavily secured train, reportedly equipped with a dining car serving fine French wines and fresh lobster, departed Pyongyang on Monday.
Since her first public appearance in November 2022, Kim Ju-ae has frequently accompanied her father at official events, though details about her remain scarce. South Korean intelligence estimates her age to be around 10. She is believed to be the second of Kim’s three children with his wife, Ri Sol-ju, although the exact number and order of his children remain unconfirmed due to the regime’s extreme secrecy.
This Beijing trip marks a significant departure from the past. Kim’s grandfather, Kim Il-sung, attended a similar parade in 1959, but Pyongyang was only represented by a high-ranking official at China’s 2015 parade. Kim’s recent foreign engagements have been limited to meetings with Putin.
The parade is a major event for Xi Jinping, as he seeks to project China’s economic and diplomatic strength on the world stage. It will showcase China’s latest weaponry and military capabilities, and will feature 26 heads of state, including those from Iran, Cuba, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, and Vietnam.
Xi’s decision to stand alongside Kim and Putin sends a strong message of support for the two leaders, both facing international criticism for their actions in Ukraine. While Western nations accuse China of supporting Russia’s war effort by providing dual-use goods and purchasing Russian oil, Beijing denies these claims.
The appearance of Kim Jong-un alongside his daughter raises questions about the future of the North Korean regime. While Kim’s public introduction of his daughter could be an attempt to address potential biases against female leadership in the patriarchal society, her frequent presence at high-profile events suggests a deliberate plan to prepare her for a leadership role.
The event underscores the deepening ties between China and North Korea, further complicating the geopolitical landscape in the region.
First Piper 