Seoul’s National Intelligence Service (NIS) has reportedly stated that Kim Ju-ae, the daughter of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, is the most likely successor, as reported by Nikkei Asia. However, the NIS also acknowledged that there are still many uncertainties and other potential candidates may emerge.
The new NIS chief, Cho Tae-yong, shared this information with South Korean MPs during a briefing ahead of a hearing. Kim Ju-ae, believed to be around 10 years old, has already made several public appearances alongside her father, including witnessing a missile test in November 2022.
The North Korean state-run KCNA press agency referred to her as the leader’s “beloved daughter” but did not disclose her name at that time. She has since accompanied her father to various missile launches and military sites on multiple occasions.
The assertion that the girl’s name is Kim Ju-ae is derived from an account provided by former US basketball star Dennis Rodman, who visited North Korea and had a meeting with its leader and his family in 2013.
This alleged conclusion aligns with a statement made last year by a senior official at South Korea’s Unification Ministry.
If this information is accurate, it signifies a change in the stance of the NIS, as the spy agency previously stated in a report in September that it was premature to speculate on Kim Ju-ae’s status as Kim Jong-un’s successor.
According to South Korea’s intelligence service, the DPRK leader is believed to have three children: a son born in 2010, a daughter born in 2013, and a child of unknown gender born in 2017.
In the latest report, as cited by Nikkei Asia, the NIS director emphasized that Kim Jong-un is still relatively young and appears to be in good health, indicating that individuals other than his daughter could potentially emerge as North Korea’s future leader.
