North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has chosen his teenage daughter, Kim Ju Ae, as his heir, South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS) told lawmakers on Thursday. According to Yonhap News Agency, the move marks a potential extension of the Kim family dynasty into a fourth generation.
The NIS assessment comes ahead of a major Workers’ Party congress in North Korea later this month, where Kim is expected to outline key policy goals for the next five years. Kim Ju Ae, believed to be around 13 years old, has been increasingly visible in state media, accompanying her father to high-profile events, including military parades and diplomatic engagements.
“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,” said lawmaker Lee Seong-kweun. The agency believes Kim Ju Ae has progressed from being trained as a potential successor to being effectively designated as heir.
Kim Ju Ae first appeared in public in November 2022 at a long-range missile test, and has since accompanied her father to various events, including a visit to Beijing and ceremonies at the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun. Analysts view her growing presence as a strong indication of her status as heir.
The move is unprecedented, as North Korea has been ruled exclusively by male members of the Kim family since 1948. If confirmed, Kim Ju Ae’s emergence signals a deliberate effort to secure dynastic continuity.
The upcoming Workers’ Party Congress could provide a platform for Kim to formalize his daughter’s role, potentially by assigning her a senior party title. However, analysts caution that any move may be subtle, given party rules requiring members to be at least 18 years old.
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Author: Korkor Anumu
