North Korean leader Kim Jong Un paid homage at war memorials for the 73rd anniversary of the Korean War armistice, as reported by state media KCNA. For the first time, his daughter Ju Ae joined him in these commemorative events.
Kim visited several cemeteries, engaged with veterans, and laid flowers on the graves of first-generation guerrilla fighters. During these events, he reiterated Pyongyang’s assertion of a ‘great victory’ in the 1950-1953 conflict. The Korean War ended with an armistice, not a peace treaty.
State media photographs depicted Ju Ae alongside her father, prominently placed in ceremonial formations and greeting elderly veterans. This public appearance highlights her rising profile.
According to South Korea’s Unification Ministry, this occasion marked Ju Ae’s first participation in the armistice anniversary commemorations and her inaugural visit to both the Fatherland Liberation War Martyrs Cemetery and the Revolutionary Martyrs Cemetery.
The National Intelligence Service (NIS) of South Korea suggests Ju Ae is being positioned as Kim’s successor, based on ‘credible intelligence’ shared with lawmakers. Her periodic appearances in state media, including images of her driving a new tank and using firearms, support this view.
In further strengthening ties with Beijing, Kim also visited the Chinese volunteer soldiers’ cemetery. There, he paid respects at the grave of Mao Anying, son of Mao Zedong, as stated by KCNA.
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