South Korea Spy Agency Flags Kim Jong Un’s Teen Daughter as Likely Heir, Signalling Possible Fourth-Generation Rule

South Korea’s intelligence agency believes Kim Jong Un’s teenage daughter is entering the “successor-designate stage,” raising the prospect of a fourth-generation Kim dynasty in North Korea.

Seoul: South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS) has assessed that the teenage daughter of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is nearing formal designation as the country’s future leader, potentially extending the Kim family’s dynastic rule into a fourth generation.

The assessment was shared with lawmakers during a closed-door briefing on Thursday, ahead of a major Workers’ Party of Korea congress expected later this month.

According to lawmaker Lee Seong Kweun, who attended the briefing, intelligence officials indicated that Kim’s daughter — widely believed to be named Kim Ju Ae and estimated to be around 13 years old — appears to have moved beyond general “successor training” into what the agency termed a “successor-designate stage.”

Growing Public Profile

Kim Ju Ae first appeared publicly in November 2022 at a long-range missile test. Since then, she has accompanied her father to numerous high-profile events, including:

• Weapons tests
• Military parades
• Factory openings
• Diplomatic engagements

She travelled with Kim to Beijing last September for his summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping, marking her first known overseas appearance.

Speculation about her political future intensified on New Year’s Day when she joined her parents at Kumsusan Palace of the Sun in Pyongyang — the mausoleum housing the embalmed bodies of North Korea’s founding leader Kim Il Sung and his son Kim Jong Il.

Analysts viewed the visit as a powerful symbolic gesture linking her directly to the regime’s founding lineage.

Shift in Intelligence Assessment

Initially, South Korean officials had expressed scepticism that a female successor would be chosen, citing North Korea’s traditionally male-dominated leadership structure. However, her increasingly prominent presence in state media has prompted a reassessment.

Lee said the terminology used by the NIS had notably shifted. “In the past, they described Kim Ju Ae as being in successor training. What was notable today is that they used the term successor-designate stage,” he said, calling it a significant development.

According to lawmakers, intelligence officials pointed to her growing visibility at major military events, her participation in symbolic family ceremonies, and signs that Kim Jong Un may already be involving her in limited policy discussions.

Dynasty Since 1948

North Korea has been ruled exclusively by male members of the Kim family since its founding in 1948. The leadership passed from Kim Il Sung to Kim Jong Il, and then to Kim Jong Un, who was officially named heir in 2010 at the age of 26 after his father suffered a stroke.

Kim Jong Un assumed power in December 2011 following his father’s death, a transition many analysts say occurred with relatively limited preparation.

Some experts believe Kim’s decision to introduce his daughter early could reflect his own experience of being rapidly elevated to leadership.

Party Congress May Offer Clues

The upcoming Workers’ Party congress — previously held in 2016 and 2021 — may offer clearer signals regarding succession plans. Analysts suggest Kim could elevate his daughter to a formal party role, though party rules typically require members to be at least 18 years old.

Whether or not an official designation is publicly announced, her growing presence suggests that Pyongyang may be preparing the groundwork for an unprecedented fourth-generation transfer of power.

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