In a recent development in North Korea, while many citizens are struggling with malnutrition due to food shortages, there is talk about the significant growth spurt of Kim Jong Un’s daughter, Kim Ju Ae. Over the past three years, her height has increased to nearly match that of Kim Jong Un himself, surpassing the average height of girls her age. This has sparked discussions among North Korean residents and heightened concerns about the height and nutrition of their own children.
On April 25th, Kim Jong Un was seen with his daughter, Kim Ju Ae, at a shipyard in Nampo for a naval vessel launching ceremony. This public appearance marks one of the few times she has been seen in official North Korean media.
In a photo released by the Korean Central News Agency (as shown in the attached image), Kim Ju Ae is pictured standing next to Kim Jong Un, appearing almost as tall as him. Kim Jong Un is believed to be 170 cm tall.
Despite being only around 12 or 13 years old, Kim Ju Ae is significantly taller than girls of her age. Her estimated age is based on statements made by former NBA player Dennis Rodman, who mentioned seeing Kim Jong Un’s daughter as a baby during his visit to North Korea in 2013.
According to South Korean intelligence reports, Kim Ju Ae was born around 2013 to Kim Jong Un and his wife, Ri Sol Ju.
Even in South Korea, where nutrition is generally better, the average height of a 12-year-old girl is approximately 155 cm. Kim Ju Ae’s notably taller stature suggests she has exceeded this average, as seen in recent photos showing her looking more mature.
Kim Ju Ae made her first public appearance in November 2022, accompanying Kim Jong Un during an inspection of intercontinental ballistic missile test firings. At that time, she appeared chubby and still resembled a pre-adolescent girl. Since then, she has been seen at various official events, missile tests, banquets, and military inspections.
A source from North Hamgyong Province in North Korea told a local radio station that when Kim Ju Ae first appeared on television three years ago, she looked like a child. However, at the recent naval vessel ceremony, she had noticeably grown taller, almost matching her father’s height.
The source continued, stating, “Residents have long suffered from food shortages and been unable to focus on their children’s growth. But now, as the leader’s child rapidly grows before their eyes, many residents have begun to pay more attention to their own children’s development.”
According to the 2023 Joint Child Malnutrition Estimates released by UNICEF, WHO, and the World Bank, as of 2022, the proportion of children under the age of five in North Korea experiencing stunted growth due to chronic malnutrition was 16.8%, nearly ten times higher than in South Korea (where it is only 1.7%).
Multiple local sources have noted the contrast between Kim Jong Un’s daughter’s good nutrition and the malnutrition affecting the general population, leading to growing dissatisfaction among the public and an increased interest in children’s height and physical development.
The source from North Hamgyong Province mentioned that this interest has extended to nutritional supplements, particularly a supplement from South Korea. Despite being priced four times higher in North Korea than in South Korea, the supplement is in high demand among affordable high-ranking officials.
Another source from North Pyongan Province revealed that people also desire taller children for social status reasons. In North Korea, those who do not reach a height of at least 150 cm after graduating high school at 17 years old are considered part of a socially disadvantaged group. These individuals may not be eligible for military service and could be assigned to construction sites or farms, leading to a lower social status perception among those with shorter stature.