Mr Kim’s daughter, whose existence has never been publicly confirmed, was seen holding hands with her father. While state news agency KCNA has not named the girl, experts believe she is Ju Ae, who is estimated to be between 12 and 13 years old. The pair were pictured before the missile was launched on Friday and landed 200 kilometers (124 miles) off the coast of Japan, according to South Korean and Japanese officials. Image: From left: Kim Jong Un, his daughter and his wife Ri Sol Ju. Photo: KCNA/Reuters Mr Kim is believed to have three children, two girls and a boy. Michael Madden, an expert on North Korea’s leadership at the US-based Stimson Center, said: “This is the first time we’ve seen Kim Jong-un’s daughter at a public event. “It’s very significant and represents a certain degree of comfort on Kim Jong Un’s part that he would take her out publicly in such a way.” Regarding Ju Ae’s estimated age, Mr Madden added: “This would indicate that she will be trained and trained to take on leadership – she could be groomed to take over as the central leader, or she could become an adviser and backstage player like her aunt.” Image: Photo: KCNA/Reuters In 2013, retired American basketball star Dennis Rodman said that Kim had a “baby” daughter named Ju Ae. According to KCNA, Mr Kim’s wife Ri Sol Ju also made an appearance at Friday’s presentation. Image: Photo: KCNA/Reuters North Korea has never announced who would succeed Kim in the event of his incapacitation, and few details are known about his young children. Analysts had speculated that his sister and his loyalists could form a regency until a crown prince is old enough to take power. Read more: Kim Jong Un pledges to boost nuclear operations North Korean missile lands near South Korean waters for first time Friday’s missile launch adds to a record year for North Korea’s missile program after it resumed intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) tests for the first time since 2017. ICBMs are North Korea’s longest-range weapon and are designed to deliver a nuclear warhead to any location in the continental United States.
