Kim Jong Un’s Daughter Seen as Designated Successor, Seoul Says

South Korea’s intelligence agency has concluded that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has effectively designated his teenage daughter Kim Ju Ae as his successor, marking a significant shift in the country’s dynastic politics.

Lawmakers briefed by Seoul’s National Intelligence Service (NIS) said Kim Ju Ae has moved from being described as «in training» to the «successor-designate stage,» and is now considered the de facto second-highest figure in the regime. The assessment follows her increasingly prominent appearances at state events and indications she has begun offering input on policy matters.

Kim Ju Ae first appeared publicly in 2022 at a long-range missile test and has since accompanied her father to military parades, factory visits and diplomatic meetings, including a 2025 summit in Beijing with Chinese President Xi Jinping. She also appeared with her parents at the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun on New Year’s Day.

Attention is now focused on the upcoming Workers’ Party Congress, which could formally confirm her status as heir. South Korean officials say they will closely monitor whether she receives an official title or special treatment at the event.

If confirmed, Kim Ju Ae would become North Korea’s first female leader, breaking decades of male-only succession within the ruling Kim dynasty, which has held power since 1948.

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