By Paul Joseph
According to South Korea’s intelligence agency, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has designated his daughter as his successor.
Kim Ju Ae, who is thought to be around 13 years old, has recently been seen alongside her father at significant events, including her first known trip abroad to Beijing in September.
The National Intelligence Service (NIS) indicated that its conclusion was based on various factors, particularly her growing visibility at official functions.
The agency also mentioned that it would monitor whether she would participate in the upcoming party congress, the largest political gathering in North Korea held every five years, where the regime is expected to outline its priorities regarding foreign policy, military strategy, and nuclear ambitions for the next five years.
On Thursday, lawmaker Lee Seong-kwen informed reporters that Ju Ae, previously described by the NIS as being “trained” for succession, has now reached the stage of “successor designation.”
Lee noted that Ju Ae has been present at numerous events, including the anniversary of the Korean People’s Army and a visit to the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun, and there are indications that she has begun to express her views on certain state policies.
The NIS believes she is now being positioned as the successor.
Ju Ae is the only publicly known child of Kim Jong Un and his wife, Ri Sol Ju. While the NIS suspects that Kim Jong Un has an older son, this child has never been acknowledged or appeared in North Korean media.
The news of Ju Ae’s existence first came to light through American basketball player Dennis Rodman, who mentioned in a 2013 interview with The Guardian that he had “held baby Ju Ae” during a visit to North Korea.
Ju Ae made her debut on state television in 2022, where she was seen inspecting North Korea’s latest intercontinental ballistic missile while holding her father’s hand.
Since then, she has frequently appeared in state media, helping to soften her father’s image as a harsh dictator.
She accompanied him to a major military parade in Beijing, where she was seen disembarking from his armored train.
Often sporting long hair, which is not permitted for her peers, and wearing designer clothing that is unattainable for most North Koreans, Ju Ae has begun to take on a more prominent role.
Another lawmaker, Park Sun-won, remarked that her participation in public events suggests she is starting to contribute to policy discussions and is being regarded as the de facto second-highest leader.
The leadership in North Korea has traditionally been passed down through the Kim family for three generations, and it is widely believed that Kim Jong Un intends to transfer power to Ju Ae.
In recent months, she has been seen standing taller than her father and walking alongside him rather than trailing behind.
In North Korea, where state media photos are carefully curated, her appearances are significant.
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