South Korea’s intelligence agency has said that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un appears to be preparing his teenage daughter, Kim Ju Ae, to succeed him, citing her increasingly visible role at major state events.The National Intelligence Service (NIS) told lawmakers it reached this conclusion after observing what it called a “range of circumstances,” including Ju Ae’s frequent public appearances alongside her father and signs that she is being groomed for leadership. Officials said she has moved beyond simple training and is now at the stage of being designated as a successor.Believed to be around 13 years old, Ju Ae has accompanied Kim to high-profile occasions such as military celebrations, visits to national memorial sites and a trip to Beijing — her first known overseas visit. In recent state media images, she is often seen walking beside her father rather than behind him, a rare gesture in North Korea’s highly symbolic political culture.Lawmakers also said Ju Ae appears to be treated as a senior figure, possibly offering input on state matters. Her public role has steadily grown since her first appearance in 2022, when she was shown inspecting an intercontinental ballistic missile with her father.Ju Ae is the only publicly known child of Kim and his wife, Ri Sol Ju. Although intelligence reports suggest he may have an older son, the child has never been acknowledged in state media.Her potential succession has surprised some analysts, as North Korea remains a deeply patriarchal society where leadership has traditionally passed to men. However, Kim’s sister, Kim Yo Jong, already holds an influential political position, showing women can wield power within the regime.It remains unclear why Kim, who is still relatively young, is naming an heir so early or what changes Ju Ae’s leadership might bring. If confirmed, her appointment would continue the Kim family’s decades-long rule over the isolated nation and could shape the country’s direction for years to come.
Kim Jong Un’s Daughter Reportedly Chosen as Successor, Says South Korea
