Children of Kim Jong-un
There are believed to be children of Kim Jong-un from multiple mothers.
Kim Jong-un, like his father and grandfather, before him, is the leader of North Korea. He has been married once, to Ri Sol-ju, who bore him Kim Ju-ae, a daughter, who South Korean intelligence officials believe has been chosen as his successor.[2] She is widely believed to have an older brother, who was not picked as successor, because he has been reported to have visible health issues.[3] However, in September 2025, The Chosun Daily reported that the theory Kim Ju-ae had an older brother "is under review".[4]
In November, 2023, The Korea Times quoted former South Korean intelligence official Choe Su-yong, who argued that Kim Jong-un's daughter's name was not actually Kim Ju-ae.[5]
Kim Jong-un formed an unlikely friendship with Dennis Rodman, who visited Kim, and met his daughter, when she was a toddler.[5] Rodman is the sole source to her name being "Ju-ae". The North Korean press refers to her as the "Beloved Daughter". Chose argues that Rodman's unfamiliarity with the Korean language caused him to mistake a phrase meaning "this one" as the daughter's actual given name.
Hyon Song-wol, Kim Jong-un's first girlfriend is suspected of bearing him a son, said to be named Kim Il-bong.[5]
References
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"Kim Jong-un's Princess Successor Is a Lie". The Untold by Tony. 2025-12-29. Retrieved 2026-10-25 – via YouTube.
In this video, I explain why the “princess successor” story is a lie, why Kim Jong-un keeps bringing his daughter into public view, and who the real heir of North Korea is likely to be.
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Jake Kwon (2026-02-12). "Kim Ju Ae: North Korea leader Kim Jong Un chooses daughter as heir, Seoul says". BBC News. Archived from the original on 2026-06-07. Retrieved 2026-05-18.
Ju Ae is the only known child of Kim Jong Un and his wife, Ri Sol Ju. The NIS believes Kim Jong Un has an older son, but this son has never been acknowledged nor shown on North Korean media.
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"Kim Jong-un Reportedly Has 'Pale and Thin' Firstborn Son Kept Away from Public". KBS WORLD Radio. 2024-02-26. Archived from the original on 2024-02-27. Retrieved 2026-03-01.
The Daily Mail last Friday referenced a report by the Korea Times in which a retired official from the National Intelligence Service(NIS), Choe Su-yong, who, citing sources from the North, said that the son's “unappealing physical appearance seems to have discouraged Kim from disclosing his son in public.” Choe reportedly added that unlike Kim himself and his daughter, who's “plump and well-fed,” his son is said to be “pale and thin.”
- ↑
Park Sun-min (2025-09-25). "Rodman: No Male Children Seen in 2013 Visit". The Chosun Daily. Archived from the original on 2025-09-27. Retrieved 2026-05-18.
The South Korean National Intelligence Service previously estimated the existence of a son born in 2010 based on increased imports of toys for male children in North Korea, but this claim is currently under review.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2
"North Korean leader's daughter known by wrong name: expert". The Korea Times. 2023-11-16. Archived from the original on 2023-11-16. Retrieved 2023-11-16.
'Kim’s first child is a son, and his name is Il-bong,' Choe said, adding that he is an illegitimate child and his mother is North Korean singer-turned-politician Hyon Song-wol. 'Kim’s youngest child is believed to be five years old or less. It remains unknown whether that child is a girl or a boy, but the child was born out of wedlock, too. The mother of that child is a Korean Japanese pianist. She is known by her first name Ryo-sim. But I don’t have any further details about her,' he added.
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