North Korean leader Kim Jong Un designates daughter as successor

By Ahmet Taş | Wise News Press

SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA —  South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS) announced on Thursday that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has designated his daughter, Kim Ju Ae, as his official successor to lead the regime.

According to a briefing presented to the South Korean Parliament, the 13-year-old Ju Ae is now being treated as the de facto second-highest official in North Korea. As reported by BBC World Service, intelligence officials noted that her public role has significantly expanded, moving beyond ceremonial appearances to active involvement in political and military affairs.

Increasing political influence and the "Respected" title

The shift in Kim Ju Ae’s status is reflected in the specific language used by state media. Previously referred to as the "beloved daughter," she is now consistently called the "respected daughter," a title reserved for the highest echelons of North Korean leadership. According to images released by KCNA via Reuters, she is prominently featured alongside her father during strategic events, including intercontinental ballistic missile launches and military anniversaries.

In September 2024, Ju Ae accompanied her father on an official visit to China, marking her first recorded international trip. Analysts suggest this move was intended to introduce her to the global stage as the future face of the Kim dynasty.

Secretive legacy and elite testing

While Kim Jong Un’s family life remains shrouded in mystery, the NIS revealed that Ju Ae has never been enrolled in a public school. Instead, she receives private homeschooling in Pyongyang. Her hobbies reportedly include swimming, skiing, and horse riding, with Kim Jong Un said to be particularly impressed by her equestrian skills—a trait often emphasized in North Korean leadership propaganda.

Expert Fyodor Tertitskiy suggests that by showcasing his daughter publicly, Kim is testing the reaction of the North Korean elite to the prospect of a female ruler. If she eventually takes power, Ju Ae will become the first female leader of North Korea since the state’s founding in 1948.

Future of the regime and the Party Congress

Intelligence officials are closely monitoring the upcoming Workers' Party Congress scheduled for late February. This quinquennial event is expected to provide further clarity on her official standing within the party hierarchy.

While reports persist that Kim Jong Un may have a son, the complete absence of such a figure from the public eye suggests that Ju Ae is the primary choice for succession. As the NIS continues to monitor "many variables," her presence as the de facto number two remains the most significant shift in Pyongyang's power dynamics in over a decade.

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