Kim Ju Ae: Who is the daughter of North Korea's leader?

Kim Ju Ae has been making public appearances recently - which has got people talking

The leaders of Russia, China, and North Korea have met for a huge parade - but it's not just these adults who are making headlines in the news.

Lots of people have been talking about a child who was also visiting the military show in Beijing.

Her name is Kim Ju Ae, and she has a very famous father - the North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

But why is her appearance so important?

Read on to find out what we know about Kim Ju Ae, and how she could play a big part in the future of North Korea.

Who is Kim Jong Un?

Kim Jong Un is the supreme leader of North Korea, a country that sits between China and South Korea.

Since 1948, when Korea was split along the north and south, North Korea has been ruled by three men from the Kim family.

This began with Kim Il Sung, then his son Kim Jong Il, and now Kim Jong Un, who took his father's place as supreme leader in 2011.

What do we know about Kim Jong Un's daughter?

Kim Jong Un's daughter is called Kim Ju Ae, and she was seen with her father as he arrived in Beijing to meet with the leaders of Russia and China.

North Korea is a very secretive country, and the Kim rulers do not share many details about their family - even with their own people.

It's thought that Kim Jong Un has three children, but Kim Ju Ae has been the only one seen in public.

A couple of years ago, South Korean's National Intelligence Service (NIS) told the country's lawmakers that they believed Kim Ju Ae was about ten years old. So now, she could be around 12 or 13.

The news agency AP said that the NIS also listed some of Kim Ju Ae's favourite hobbies at the briefing - horse riding, skiing and swimming.

What is life like in North Korea?

Whilst Kim Ju Ae might be able to enjoy lots of hobbies, life for other children in North Korea is very different.

The government is very strict and controls what most North Koreans are allowed to do or see, with harsh punishments for those who criticise the ruling powers.

Access to the country is also heavily restricted, making it difficult for journalists to find out what's happening there.

But we do know that life is hard for lots of North Koreans. Many live in poverty and don't have things that most families in the UK do, like fridges, washing machines, or bicycles.

Many people do not have enough to eat, and those who can't afford or access food rely on aid sent in from outside the country.

What's so important about Kim Ju Ae?

With all this control and mystery surrounding North Korea, it's a big deal that Kim Jong Un has brought his daughter along to public events.

Last year, South Korea's spy agency NIS said that they believed Kim Ju Ae was the most likely person to become North Korea's next supreme leader.

But others think that North Korea would not let a woman rule the country, as its previous leaders have all been men.

Professor Hazel Smith, a Korean studies expert at the School of Oriental and African Studies, told the BBC that whatever Kim Ju Ae's future may be, it's a sign that the Kim family still holds huge power over North Korea.

Professor Smith said: "This is a Kim family dynasty that isn't intending to make way to any form of alternative type of government".