Jan 02, Kathmandu - Analysts have seen the teenage daughter of North Korean supreme leader Kim Jong-un make her first public visit to a sacred family mausoleum as a move to solidify her position as a potential successor.

The visit, which took place on New Year's Day, is said to have signaled a new shift in North Korean power politics.

Kim Ju Ae, who is about 13 years old, attended the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun in Pyongyang with her parents and showed deep respect. The bodies of his late great-grandfather Kim Jong-il and grandfather, Kim Il-sung are preserved and kept in this palace. In photos released by state media on Friday, Kim Ju Ae was seen standing in the front row, paying her respects.

Cheong Seong-Chang, deputy head of the private Sejong Institute in South Korea, said the Kumsusan Palace is considered a symbol of the legitimacy of the North Korean regime. He said Kim Ju Ae's presence there in the context of the upcoming Workers' Party congress was a politically planned move, possibly aimed at presenting her as a future heir.

Kim Jong-un, 41, is the third generation of the Kim family to rule since North Korea was founded in 1948. He has continued the tradition of paying homage to his father and grandfather at the Kumsusan Palace on major state anniversaries.

Cheong Seong-Chang has suggested that Kim Jong-un could give his daughter a high-profile post, such as first secretary of the party, at the upcoming Workers' Party Congress. But some experts say Kim Ju Ae is too young to take on such a high-profile role, and could start her political career at a lower level.

The congress, which is being held after five years, aims to reassess the state’s policy priorities and reshuffle the leadership. Although North Korea has not officially announced the date of the congress, South Korean intelligence agencies say it is likely to take place in January or February.

Since her first appearance in state media in November 2022, Kim Ju Ae has been regularly seen with her father at important events, including military parades and intercontinental missile launches. She accompanied her father on a trip to Beijing in September. This week, she publicly showed her close family ties by kissing her father on the cheek during New Year’s celebrations.

In January 2024, South Korea's intelligence agency reported that Kim Ju Ae was considered a potential successor to Kim Jong-un. However, some international experts have disagreed with this assessment, citing her young age and the fact that North Korea's power structure is highly male-dominated.