North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has chosen his daughter, Kim Ju Ae, as his successor as he seeks to extend the family’s rule into a fourth generation, South Korea’s intelligence agency told lawmakers.
Kim Ju Ae, believed to be around 13 years old and widely thought to be Kim’s second child, has appeared more frequently at major public events alongside her father. South Korean officials previously noted that she accompanied him on a high-profile trip to China last September, which was her first known visit abroad. Intelligence officials earlier suggested the public appearances could be aimed at shaping a long-term narrative for a future transfer of power.
In a newer assessment delivered to lawmakers on Thursday, Feb. 12, the agency said it had become more confident that Kim Ju Ae has been selected to eventually replace her father. Officials said the conclusion was based on a broad review of relevant indicators.
The briefing comes as North Korea prepares for its largest political meeting later this month, where Kim Jong Un is expected to present major policy priorities for the next five years. South Korea’s intelligence agency said it is watching closely to see whether Kim Ju Ae appears with him in front of delegates during the event.
South Korean officials initially doubted a female successor would be chosen, citing the country’s traditionally male-dominated leadership. However, her repeated presence at key state occasions has driven a reassessment. Last month, she appeared publicly with her parents on New Year’s Day during a visit to Kumsusan Palace of the Sun in Pyongyang, the mausoleum that houses the embalmed bodies of Kim Jong Un’s father and grandfather.
Kim Ju Ae first came to wider public attention in 2022, when she was shown with her father during an event linked to the launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile.
Little is publicly known about Kim Jong Un’s other children. Reports have described an older son born in 2010 who has never been publicly acknowledged, and a third child born in February 2017, though some accounts differ on whether the youngest is a son or daughter.
