(Seoul, South Korea) – South Korea’s intelligence agency told lawmakers Thursday that it believes the teenage daughter of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is nearing formal recognition as the country’s future leader — a move that would extend the Kim family’s rule into a fourth generation.
The assessment from the National Intelligence Service comes ahead of a major Workers’ Party congress later this month, where Kim is expected to unveil key policy goals and further consolidate his authority.
In a closed-door briefing, intelligence officials said they are closely watching whether Kim’s daughter — widely believed to be named Kim Ju Ae and approximately 13 years old — appears prominently during the high-profile political gathering.
Growing Public Role Signals Shift
Kim Ju Ae first appeared publicly in November 2022 at a long-range missile test. Since then, her presence alongside her father has steadily increased. She has attended military parades, weapons demonstrations, factory visits, and even traveled to Beijing last year during Kim’s summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping.
Speculation intensified in January when she joined her parents at Pyongyang’s Kumsusan Palace of the Sun — the mausoleum housing the embalmed bodies of the nation’s founder Kim Il Sung and his successor Kim Jong Il.
Analysts view the visit as a symbolic gesture, positioning her within the lineage of North Korea’s ruling dynasty.
Lawmakers briefed by the intelligence agency noted a significant shift in language. Previously described as undergoing “successor training,” she is now said to be entering a “successor-designate stage,” suggesting preparations may be moving toward formal recognition.
Questions Remain Ahead of Party Congress
North Korean state media have never publicly identified her by name, referring only to Kim’s “respected” or “most beloved” child. Her reported name comes from former NBA player Dennis Rodman, who said he met Kim’s daughter during a 2013 visit to Pyongyang.
North Korea has been ruled exclusively by male members of the Kim family since its founding in 1948, raising early skepticism among South Korean officials about whether a female heir would be acceptable within the country’s traditionally patriarchal power structure.
Still, Kim Jong Un’s own rapid rise to power at age 26 following his father’s death in 2011 has led some analysts to believe he may be positioning his daughter earlier to avoid uncertainty.
The upcoming Workers’ Party congress could offer subtle signals of succession planning. While formal appointments may not be publicly announced, analysts say messaging about the “inheritance of the revolution” or elevated positioning during official events could indicate she is being cemented as heir.
For now, intelligence officials say they are watching closely for any signs that North Korea’s leadership transition plans are becoming more explicit.
