Kim Jong Un’s daughter is one of many mysteries in the mysterious leader’s family

North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un has made his first public appearance with his daughter, sparking some speculation that the young girl may one day succeed him as leader.

Kim appeared with his daughter, believed to be Kim Chu-ae, as she inspected the launch of an ICBM on Friday, a first for the long-ruling family. According to the Japanese Ministry of Defense, the ICBM had the range to hit the mainland United States.

The North Korean regime is notoriously secretive and relatively few details are known about the Kims, with even the exact age of the dictator’s daughter currently unknown.

North Korea expert Michael Madden of the Stimson Center in Washington, DC, told BBC News on Friday he believes Kim Chu-ae is 12 or 13 years old International business hours reports that the girl is 9 years old.

State news agency KCNA shared photos of Kim holding his daughter’s hand and speaking to each other and officials during the inspection.

She is also believed to be Kim’s daughter by his wife Ri Sol-ju, whom the dictator reportedly married in 2009. Details about Ri are also sparse and her date of birth is not publicly available while she was only publicly announced as Kim’s wife in 2012.

The couple are believed to have three children with Ri giving birth to a son in 2010. Chu-ae was reportedly born in 2013 and a third child is believed to have been born in 2017.

The existence of Kim’s daughter was revealed by NBA Hall of Famer Dennis Rodman during his controversial visit to North Korea in 2013. At the time, Rodman said he “held her baby Chu-ae.”

Rodman tells The guard At that time he also spoke to Ri and said about the North Korean ruler: “He is a good father and has a beautiful family.”

The Kims have ruled North Korea for decades and both Kim’s father Kim Jong-il and grandfather Kim-il Sung were the nation’s dictators. Kim Jong Un succeeded his father but the 38-year-old is not believed to have named his own heir.

Kim Jong Un’s sister, Kim Yo-jong, is also a well-known and prominent member of the North Korean regime. She is the youngest child of the late Kim Jong-il and the younger sister of the current dictator. Her mother was Ko Yong-hui, who died in 2004.

Kim Yo-jong has held a number of positions in the North Korean government, including being the only woman on the country’s State Affairs Commission. She is said to be very close to the dictator and was trained by him in Switzerland. The 35-year-old is also considered a potential successor to her brother.

North Korea has taken a combative stance against other nations, notably South Korea, Japan and the US. The country earlier this month warned of possible “uncontrollable” tensions over joint US and South Korean military exercises.

news week turned to North Korea experts for comment.