Kim Jong Un Close To Naming Teenage Daughter as Heir, Says South Korea Intelligence
South Korea’s intelligence agency says North Korean leader Kim Jong Un appears to be moving closer to formally naming his teenage daughter as his successor, which would extend the Kim family’s grip on power into a fourth generation.
In a closed-door briefing to lawmakers on Thursday, the National Intelligence Service (NIS) said Kim Ju Ae has moved beyond being a possible heir and is now in what officials described as the “successor-designate stage.” Lawmaker Lee Seong-kwen told reporters that the agency’s language marked a notable shift. “In the past, (NIS) described Kim Ju Ae as being in the midst of ‘successor training.’ What was notable today is that they used the term ‘successor-designate stage,’ a shift that's quite significant,” Lee said.
According to Lee, the NIS based its assessment on what it called a “range of circumstances,” including Ju Ae’s increasingly visible role at major state events and signs that she may already be weighing in on policy matters.
Ju Ae, who is believed to be about 13 years old, first appeared publicly in late 2022 at a long-range missile test. Since then, she has regularly accompanied her father to weapons launches, military parades, factory visits and high-profile ceremonies. In September, she traveled with him by armored train to Beijing, where she attended a major military parade marking the end of World War II and met foreign leaders.
Her appearance at Pyongyang’s Kumsusan Palace of the Sun on New Year’s Day drew particular attention. The site houses the embalmed bodies of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il, North Korea’s founding and second leaders, and Ju Ae’s great-grandfather and grandfather. Analysts saw the visit, alongside her parents, as a powerful symbol of dynastic continuity.
The timing of the NIS assessment is particularly significant. North Korea is set to hold its Workers’ Party congress, its biggest political gathering, later this month, where Kim Jong Un is expected to lay out the national priorities for the next five years. South Korean officials say they are watching closely to see whether Ju Ae appears prominently or receives a formal title. If she does, it would likely fuel further speculation about her path to power.
North Korea has never publicly confirmed her name, referring to her only as Kim’s “respected” or “most beloved” child. The belief that she is named Kim Ju Ae comes from former NBA star Dennis Rodman, who said in 2013 that he “held baby Ju Ae” during a visit to Pyongyang. South Korean intelligence believes she was born that year. Whether Kim Ju Ae is her real name or not is currently unknown.
Her potential rise to power is striking in a country that has long been defined by male leadership and conservative gender roles. Since 1948, power has passed from Kim Il Sung to his son Kim Jong Il, and then to Kim Jong Un. While some experts once dismissed the idea of a female leader, Kim’s sister, Kim Yo Jong, now holds a senior party position and is seen as highly influential within the country.
There are still unanswered questions. South Korean officials previously said Kim likely has an older son, though he has never appeared in state media. It is also unclear why Kim Jong Un, who is in his early 40s and appears healthy, would move to choose a teenage heir at this time.
Some analysts suggest Kim’s own experience may offer a clue as to why he may be selecting an heir at this time. Kim was formally introduced as successor in his mid-20s and took power quickly after his father’s death, with limited time to prepare. By bringing his daughter into the public eye early, he may be trying to avoid a similar rushed transition.
If Kim Ju Ae is ultimately confirmed as the heir, she would inherit control over a nuclear-armed state that continues to prioritize military development. South Korean lawmakers said the NIS also briefed them that Kim is overseeing the construction of a large submarine that could potentially carry multiple submarine-launched ballistic missiles.
For now, much depends on the upcoming party congress. Any signal of succession may not be spelled out directly, but subtle references to a “successful inheritance of the revolution,” as some analysts suggest, could point to a future already being shaped behind the scenes in Pyongyang.
