Speculation is growing that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un may be preparing his teenage daughter, believed to be named Kim Ju Ae, as his successor.
South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS) said this week that Kim appears to have “entered the stage of nominating her as successor,” according to lawmakers briefed behind closed doors. The agency noted that Ju Ae has not only attended major public events but may also have expressed opinions on certain policy matters.
Ju Ae, widely believed to be in her early teens, first appeared publicly in 2022 during a missile launch inspection. Since then, she has accompanied her father to several high-profile military events, including parades featuring intercontinental ballistic missiles.
She also reportedly joined Kim on a trip to Beijing last year, marking her first public appearance abroad.
North Korea has not officially confirmed any succession plans. The country remains one of the world’s most closed and secretive states, and little is known about Kim’s children. Analysts believe he has three, but Ju Ae is the only one regularly seen in public.
Some experts caution that her appearances may be symbolic rather than a clear sign of succession. North Korea’s leadership transitions have historically been tightly controlled and opaque. Still, her growing visibility has fueled debate over the future of the Kim dynasty, which has ruled the country for three generations.
