Seoul spy agency says Kim Jong Un’s teen daughter now viewed as his heir

South Korea’s intelligence agency now considers it reasonable to regard the teenage daughter of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un as his designated successor, its clearest indication yet that the secretive state is preparing for a fourth generation of dynastic rule.

Officials told lawmakers in a closed-door session that the girl, widely believed to be Kim Ju Ae, though her identity and age have never been confirmed by Pyongyang, has effectively emerged as the heir-apparent. The teenager has appeared alongside her father at a series of prominent political and military events since 2022, spurring growing speculation about her future role.

According to ruling party lawmaker Lee Seong-kweun, who attended the briefing, National Intelligence Service (NIS) director Lee Jong-seok said it is now “fair” to view the girl as Kim’s successor. The assessment marks a notable shift from earlier NIS statements, which had cautiously described her as a “likely” heir.

The NIS reportedly cited “reliable intelligence” suggesting that North Korean authorities are working to elevate her political standing and acclimate the public to the idea of a female leader, a break from the country’s deeply patriarchal tradition.

Kim Yo Jong’s influence dismissed

When asked whether Kim’s influential sister Kim Yo Jong could challenge the succession, the NIS director told lawmakers she holds no real power despite her visibility in state propaganda. Her prominence, he said, does not translate into authority that could impede the grooming of the young heir.

Building a military image

The NIS said Pyongyang appears to be intentionally shaping the teenager’s public persona by highlighting her involvement in military activities. Recent footage distributed by state media showed her operating a tank during army drills and firing pistols alongside her father during a visit to a munitions plant.

Such imagery, the agency suggested, is aimed at countering doubts about whether a woman could assume command in one of the world’s most militarised states.

Some analysts remain unconvinced by Seoul’s assessment, arguing that Kim Jong Un, at only 42, is unlikely to formalise a succession plan so early in his rule. They warn that prematurely naming an heir could weaken his authority and disrupt elite loyalties.

Others note that North Korea’s rigidly male-dominated power structure has never accommodated a female leader since the state’s founding in 1948.

Secretive heir with a public spotlight

Little is officially known about Kim’s daughter. Her name, Kim Ju Ae, stems from a 2013 claim by former NBA star Dennis Rodman, who said he met and held her as a baby during a visit to Pyongyang. North Korea itself has never confirmed her identity, age or status.

Despite this secrecy, her increasing visibility beside her father has made her a central figure in discussions about the future of the regime.

Dynastic continuity

If she is indeed being positioned as Kim’s successor, she would become the fourth ruler in a line that began with Kim Il Sung, passed to Kim Jong Il, and then to Kim Jong Un in 2011. The family’s unbroken grip on leadership remains one of the defining features of North Korea’s political system.

Lawmakers who received the NIS briefing said the agency believes the recent push to showcase the girl’s military involvement is part of a deliberate effort to reinforce the image of a prepared and capable future leader, even if much of the world remains sceptical. (AP)