Kim Jong Un's Daughter's Leather Jacket: A Strong Signal She's Being Groomed as North Korea's Next Leader?

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un appeared wearing a leather jacket that matched his daughter’s during a military parade. The photos were released by state media on Thursday (February 26, 2026).

This has sparked strong speculation that his daughter is now being prepared as a potential heir to lead the isolated nation. Previously, South Korean intelligence had confirmed this fact.

In fact, Kim Jong Un’s daughter is still a teenager. Her name is Kim Ju Ae.

In the photos, she stands out during the closing of the congress of the ruling Workers’ Party. The father and daughter wore identical leather jackets as they stood side-by-side to oversee the massive military procession, while Kim Jong Un’s wife, Ri Sol Ju, also appeared with them in similar attire.

The Kim Jong Un family has ruled North Korea with an iron fist for decades, where the “Paektu bloodline” cult dominates the daily lives of the people. Kim Ju Ae has long been seen as the next figure in the line of succession.

Leather Jacket Politics?

Analyst Lim Eul-chul believes that the leather jacket, which has become a distinctive feature of Kim Jong Un’s wardrobe, especially during major public appearances, has more meaning than just a fashion statement. In North Korean political symbolism, the appearance carries great weight because it is linked to “the image of the leader as the main guarantor of national security and future prosperity.”

“So, when the same symbolic clothing is worn by his young daughter, it is difficult to see this as a coincidence,” said Lim Eul-chul.

Other photos from the parade show Kim Ju Ae walking on a red carpet next to her father as Kim Jong Un receives honors from North Korean military leaders. Korea expert Leif-Eric Easley said that Kim Ju Ae’s latest appearance shows her increasing status within the country’s hierarchy.

However, he noted that this status is still limited to the inner circle of the leader’s family. According to him, this shows her as the leader’s daughter.

“But she is still appearing in her capacity as the leader’s daughter. She may not be old enough to participate in the congress with an official party title,” said Leif-Eric Easley.

Kim Ju Ae was first introduced to the world in 2022 when she accompanied her father to the launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile. Before that moment, the only confirmation of her existence came from former NBA star Dennis Rodman, who visited North Korea in 2013.

Pyongyang has never confirmed Kim Ju Ae’s exact age, but analysts believe she is currently in her early teens. Kim Ju Ae has also often attracted attention for her taste for luxury fashion, such as wearing Gucci sunglasses and a Cartier watch, in addition to often imitating her father’s signature style with leather jackets and dark glasses.