South Korean intelligence says Kim Jong Un’s daughter is his likely successor

South Korea’s National Intelligence Service believes North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s daughter is being groomed as his successor, a move aimed at securing a fourth generation of Kim family rule.

Lawmaker Lee Seong-kweun said Thursday that the girl’s increasing public profile and her prominent role alongside her father serve as key indicators of her transition into the role.

During a closed-door briefing, NIS officials told lawmakers they are closely watching to see if the daughter—believed to be about 13-year-old Kim Ju Ae—will appear before thousands of delegates at the upcoming Workers' Party congress.

South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS) has identified Kim Ju-ae as the likely successor to Kim Jong-un, signaling a transformative shift in North Korean internal politics. If confirmed, her rise would represent a historic first: a female leader at the helm of one of the world’s most deeply patriarchal and militarized states. Furthermore, it would solidify the Kim family’s dynastic control into a fourth generation—a rare feat of political endurance in the modern era.

Kim Jong-un’s decision to introduce his daughter to the public at such a young age marks a sharp break from established precedent. Historically, North Korean leaders have been shielded from public view until the eve of their succession; Kim Jong-un himself remained an enigma until shortly before taking power. This new strategy appears to be a calculated effort to telegraph stability and normalize her presence among the Pyongyang elite and the broader populace. By establishing her legitimacy early, Kim Jong-un is likely attempting to insulate the regime against potential power struggles and provide the ruling factions with a clear, unambiguous line of succession.

However, the path to consolidated power remains fraught with systemic hurdles. Kim Ju-ae must navigate deep-seated skepticism from a military establishment and senior party officials who may be reluctant to defer to a young, female commander-in-chief. Her ability to exert control over the Korean People’s Army—the bedrock of the regime’s power—remains a critical unknown.

For the international community, particularly the United States, South Korea, and China, the emergence of a new, untested heir complicates an already volatile strategic landscape. The prospect of a leadership transition in Pyongyang introduces fresh variables into the long-stalled negotiations over denuclearization and regional security, as global powers weigh how a new generation of the Kim dynasty will manage the North’s nuclear ambitions.