South Korea's National Intelligence Service (NIS) has concluded that Kim Jong Un's teenage daughter is his presumed heir, marking its strongest assessment yet of her political future. The NIS director, Lee Jong-seok, conveyed this view in a closed-door briefing to the National Assembly on Monday, according to lawmaker Lee Seong Kweun.
The assessment represents a shift from earlier evaluations. In early 2024, the NIS described the girl as a likely heir, and by February it believed she was close to being formally designated. The latest briefing went further, with the NIS also stating that Kim's sister, Kim Yo Jong, who has long been seen as the North's second-in-command, holds "no substantial powers."
Kim's daughter, reported to be named Kim Ju Ae and aged about 13, has appeared alongside her father at numerous high-profile events since late 2022. State media have referred to her as Kim's "most beloved" or "respected" child. Her name and age have not been officially confirmed; the name stems from an account by former NBA player Dennis Rodman, who said he held Kim's baby daughter during a 2013 trip to Pyongyang.
Recent public appearances include the girl driving a tank during army training and firing a pistol alongside her father at a light munitions factory. The NIS suggested such events were deliberately staged to build her military credentials and "dispel skepticism about a woman successor," lawmaker Lee said. Another lawmaker at the briefing, Park Sunwon, made similar comments.
Some observers dispute the NIS's assessment, noting that North Korea's deeply male-dominated society is unlikely to accept a female leader. They also point out that Kim, aged 42, is still relatively young and may not yet wish to name a successor for fear of weakening his own authority.
