North Korean leader Kim Jong Un reappeared recently alongside his daughter in a photo session released this Sunday by state media, alongside top regime officials. The images suggest a formal moment tied to ongoing military demonstrations and national achievements.
Photos released on Sunday by the state agency KCNA show Kim in several poses with a young girl described by authorities as his daughter. The girl wears a black coat and bears a resemblance to the First Lady Ri Sol-ju in certain facial features and styling, sparking discussion about the appearance and public visibility of Kim’s family members.
KCNA notes that the pictures depict the supreme leader with his “beloved daughter” and indicate that the military and scientists played roles in contributing to the reported successful test launch of the Hwasong-17. The test occurred on the 18th and is presented as a notable milestone in the country’s weapons program, according to state media.
North Korean media also showed the girl publicly for the first time on the 19th, alongside images related to the ICBM launch. The accompanying report states that Kim oversaw the launch “with his beloved daughter and wife,” though it does not provide further details about the events or the individuals present.
North Korean media often limits coverage of close relatives of the Kim dynasty. The girl, believed to be part of the leadership family, has not been a regular subject of public exposure, and official propaganda had traditionally refrained from acknowledging her existence until now.
South Korean intelligence experts have speculated about Kim Jong Un potentially having three children with Ri Sol-ju in 2010, 2013, and 2017, with some assessments suggesting the shown girl might be the middle child among these presumed siblings.
Following one of his high-profile visits to North Korea to engage with Kim Jong Un, former American basketball player Dennis Rodman publicized in 2013 that he was holding a young girl identified as Ju-ae, a baby at the time, during a personal moment abroad. The claim added fuel to ongoing public interest surrounding Kim’s family and state media narratives, though details remain largely unverified outside official channels.
Observers note that the regime frequently uses public appearances tied to military demonstrations to project continuity and legitimacy. The public presentation of Kim and his daughter during the Hwasong-17 event appears to align with a pattern of using family imagery to reinforce leadership messages within the country and to signal resolve to both domestic audiences and regional observers.