Kim Jong Un Reportedly Names 13-Year-Old Daughter, Kim Ju Ae, as Successor

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has reportedly selected his daughter, Kim Ju Ae, believed to be around 13 years old, as his official successor, according to South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS) .

Ju Ae has increasingly appeared alongside her father at major public engagements, including a 2023 visit to Beijing and several military parades, signaling her elevation within the country’s political structure.

The NIS informed lawmakers that her sustained public visibility and apparent involvement in state affairs suggest she has reached the “successor designation” phase. Intelligence officials are closely monitoring whether she will accompany her father to the upcoming party congress later this month—North Korea’s most significant political event, where key policies on foreign relations, defense, and nuclear strategy are typically announced.

Ju Ae, Kim Jong Un’s only publicly acknowledged child with his wife Ri Sol Ju, first appeared in state media in 2022 during an ICBM inspection. Since then, she has become a regular fixture in official broadcasts and photos, often walking beside her father, contributing to a softer portrayal of his leadership.

The decision marks a departure from North Korea’s deeply patriarchal traditions, especially given reports that Kim may have an older son who remains unacknowledged by the state. Analysts have also raised questions about the timing of the succession plan, considering Kim is still relatively young and in apparent good health. Ju Ae’s emergence as heir could have far-reaching implications for the country’s future policy direction and leadership style.