Source TOI
SEOUL – South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS) has significantly revised its assessment of Kim Ju Ae, the teenage daughter of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, stating she has now reached the “successor-designate” stage.
This update, shared during a closed-door parliamentary briefing on Thursday, suggests a more formal effort by Pyongyang to solidify a fourth generation of the Kim dynasty. While the NIS previously described the teenager as being in “successor training,” officials noted that the shift in terminology indicates her path to leadership is becoming increasingly concrete.
A Rapid Rise to the Spotlight
Kim Ju Ae, believed to be approximately 13 years old, first made headlines in November 2022 when she appeared alongside her father at a long-range missile test. Since then, her public profile has grown exponentially. She has been seen at military parades, weapon launches, and factory visits.
Most notably, she accompanied Kim Jong Un to a high-profile summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping in September and joined her parents at the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun—the mausoleum for North Korea’s former leaders—this past January.
Lawmakers were informed that her presence at these critical military and state events, coupled with reports that Kim Jong Un has begun consulting her on certain policy matters, were primary factors in the NIS’s updated conclusion.
Potential Formalization at the Party Congress
The timing of this assessment is crucial, as North Korea prepares for a major Workers’ Party congress later this month. Analysts believe this event could serve as a platform to formalize Ju Ae’s status.
Speculation has arisen that she could be appointed to a high-ranking role, such as First Secretary of the Central Committee. However, such a move would face hurdles, as current party rules require members to be at least 18 years old. Regardless of a formal title, the NIS plans to monitor the “level of protocol” she receives at the congress as a barometer for her future authority.
Breaking the Male-Dominated Tradition
If Kim Ju Ae is officially cemented as the heir, it would mark a historic departure for the isolated nation. Since its founding in 1948, North Korea has been ruled exclusively by male members of the Kim family.
Experts suggest that Kim Jong Un’s decision to introduce his daughter to the public so early may stem from his own experience. Kim was only officially named heir in 2010, just a year before he was thrust into power following his father’s sudden death, leaving him with little time to prepare for the complexities of leadership.
While North Korean state media continues to refer to her only as the “respected” or “most beloved” child, the world will be watching the upcoming party congress for any signals—subtle or overt—that the “revolutionary inheritance” has officially passed to the next generation.
