Kim Close to Naming Teenage Daughter as Future North Korean Leader, South Korea Says

South Korea’s intelligence agency believes Kim Jong-un may be preparing to formally position his teenage daughter as the next leader of North Korea — a move that would extend the ruling Kim dynasty into a fourth generation.

According to lawmakers briefed by South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS), officials are closely monitoring signs that Kim’s daughter — widely believed to be named Kim Ju-ae — could soon be publicly designated as successor.

Intelligence Assessment Signals “Successor-Designate” Stage

In a closed-door briefing, NIS officials reportedly told lawmakers that Kim Ju-ae appears to have moved beyond informal “successor training” and is now in what they described as a “successor-designate stage.”

The shift in terminology suggests South Korean intelligence views her public role as more deliberate and strategic than before.

Officials are particularly watching whether she appears alongside her father at the upcoming Workers’ Party of Korea congress — one of North Korea’s most significant political gatherings, where long-term policy and leadership signals are often unveiled.

A Growing Public Presence

Kim Ju-ae first appeared publicly in November 2022 during a long-range missile test. Since then, she has accompanied her father to:

• Military parades
• Weapons launches
• Industrial site visits
• Diplomatic events

She also traveled with him to Beijing in 2025 for a summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping, marking her first known international appearance.

Most recently, she joined her parents at Kumsusan Palace of the Sun on New Year’s Day — a symbolic site housing the embalmed bodies of former leaders Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il. Analysts interpreted the visit as a powerful signal of dynastic continuity.

Breaking Tradition in a Male-Dominated System

Since North Korea’s founding in 1948, leadership has passed exclusively through male members of the Kim family. That history initially led many observers to doubt a daughter would be named heir.

However, her growing prominence in state media — where she is described as Kim’s “most beloved” or “respected” child — has fueled speculation that succession plans may already be underway.

South Korean intelligence believes she was born in 2013, based partly on comments made by former NBA player Dennis Rodman, who visited Pyongyang that year and later said he met Kim’s young daughter.

Why Now?

Kim Jong-un himself was formally introduced as heir in 2010 at age 26, following his father’s stroke. He assumed power abruptly in 2011 after Kim Jong-il’s death.

Some analysts suggest Kim may be introducing his daughter early to avoid the rushed transition he experienced — gradually building her public profile to normalize her future leadership.

What Happens Next?

All eyes are now on the upcoming party congress. If Kim Ju-ae appears in a highly visible role before senior party officials and military leaders, it could mark the clearest signal yet that North Korea is preparing for another hereditary transfer of power.

For now, neither North Korea nor its state media have officially confirmed any succession plan.

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