North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has positioned his daughter, Ju Ae, as the likely heir to the country’s dynastic leadership, South Korean officials say, ahead of a major party congress later this month.
The assessment was shared on Thursday by South Korean lawmaker Lee Seong-kweun following a briefing from Seoul’s National Intelligence Service (NIS).
The Kim family has ruled North Korea for decades, with leadership deeply entwined with the so-called “Paektu bloodline” and a tradition of personality-driven governance.
Ju Ae, now in her early teens, has increasingly appeared at high-profile events alongside her father, fueling speculation about her succession.
According to Lee, the NIS concluded that Ju Ae has been clearly “designated as a successor,” citing her growing visibility at official events and early involvement in discussions related to government policy.
Her appearances have included accompanying Kim Jong Un on a historic visit to Beijing last year, and participating in public ceremonies, such as paying respects at the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun in January, where the bodies of North Korea’s founders, Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il, lie in state.
North Korea is set to hold its landmark party congress at the end of February — the country’s largest political event — where it is expected to outline its foreign policy, military plans, and nuclear ambitions for the next five years. Analysts will be closely monitoring Ju Ae’s participation and the level of protocol accorded to her, with some suggesting she could be formally elected First Secretary of the Central Committee, the second-most powerful position in the ruling Workers’ Party.
Ju Ae first appeared publicly in 2022, accompanying her father to an intercontinental ballistic missile launch. Since then, state media has referred to her as “the beloved child” and a “great person of guidance” (“hyangdo”), titles traditionally reserved for top leaders and their successors.
Prior to 2022, the only public confirmation of Ju Ae’s existence came from former NBA star Dennis Rodman, who visited North Korea in 2013. Estimates place her birth between 2012 and 2013.
Ju Ae has drawn attention for her fashion sense, often seen wearing luxury items such as Gucci sunglasses and Cartier watches, while at times mirroring her father’s signature style with matching leather jackets and dark glasses.
Recent footage showed her at New Year celebrations in Pyongyang, sharing a rare public display of affection with her father, highlighting her emerging prominence on the North Korean stage.
The NIS first flagged Ju Ae as Kim Jong Un’s likely successor in 2024, a revelation that surprised many observers given North Korea’s historically male-dominated leadership.
Her growing visibility signals a carefully orchestrated grooming process, suggesting the Kim dynasty is preparing for continuity under the next generation.
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