Japanese Media Analyzes "Kim Ju Ae's Excessive Physical Affection... North Korean Officials Avert Eyes or Appear Embarrassed"

Kiss on the Cheek with His Daughter... Diverging Interpretations of Kim Jong Un and Kim Ju Ae's Public Appearances
Japan: "Beyond Successor Presentation, a Glimpse into a Distorted Regime"
Ministry of Unification: "Aiming to Strengthen Social Un

Japanese media specializing in North Korea have analyzed that Kim Jong Un, Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of North Korea, displaying excessive physical affection and orchestrated positioning with his daughter Kim Ju Ae at official events, reveals not only a simple "successor production" but also exposes the instability and distortion within the North Korean regime. On the 5th, Japanese media outlet Daily NK Japan focused on the unusual behavior repeatedly shown by Kim Jong Un and his daughter Kim Ju Ae at recent official events. The outlet pointed out that Kim Ju Ae sat in the central seat between Kim Jong Un and Ri Solju at the New Year’s celebration performance, wore an outfit identical in design to Kim Jong Un’s, and was shown on Korean Central Television several times kissing Kim Jong Un on the cheek immediately after the New Year’s countdown.

On the 1st, Kim Jong Un, Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of North Korea, who attended the 2026 New Year Celebration Performance held at the May 1 Stadium in Pyongyang, is whispering to his daughter Ju Ae. Photo by Yonhap News Agency via Korean Central Television

In particular, the media reported that it is extremely rare in North Korean history for anyone other than the supreme leader to sit in the central seat at an official event, and that some surrounding officials were seen averting their gaze or appearing embarrassed. It was also mentioned that Ri Solju, who was present at the same event, generally maintained a neutral expression. On New Year’s Day, Kim Ju Ae also accompanied Kim Jong Un for the first time to pay respects at the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun, where the bodies of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il are enshrined, standing at the very front and center of the procession.

The outlet evaluated this by stating, "Kim Ju Ae standing at the center in a space symbolizing North Korea’s legitimacy strongly suggests her status as a successor." However, Daily NK Japan analyzed that the excessive displays of affection repeatedly shown by Kim Jong Un and Kim Ju Ae at official events appear to subconsciously reveal the internal instability and distortion present within the North Korean regime, rather than simply being a rational production of succession.

North Korean State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jongun visited the construction site of the "Overseas Military Operation Combat Meritorious Service Memorial Hall" on the 5th with his wife Ri Solju, daughter Ju Ae, and party and government leadership officials to plant a tree, according to Korean Central Television on the 6th. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

The Ministry of Unification interpreted these actions more cautiously. Regarding the recent frequent appearances of Kim Jong Un, Kim Ju Ae, and Ri Solju together, the Ministry explained that the intention seems to be less about succession arrangements and more about strengthening social cohesion among the population by highlighting the image of a "large socialist family." A Ministry of Unification official stated, "Although there are various analyses regarding Kim Ju Ae’s activities, recently it appears that there is a greater emphasis on projecting a 'family-oriented image' through the leader’s family." The "large socialist family" theory is a governance narrative that frames North Korea as a single family, with the leader as the father, the party as the mother, and the people as the children, and is analyzed as a strategy to reinforce regime unity ahead of the 9th Congress of the Workers’ Party of Korea.