South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS) has suggested that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s teenage daughter may be on the path to becoming the regime’s next leader, according to a report by The Associated Press.
Kim Jong Un continues the family dynasty as the third generation to lead North Korea.
During a private briefing, NIS officials indicated they are keenly observing whether Kim’s daughter, reportedly named Kim Ju Ae and believed to be about 13 years old, will make a public appearance with him at the upcoming Workers’ Party Congress. This was shared by lawmaker Lee Seong Kweun, who was present at the briefing.
A photograph from January 27, 2026, released by the Korean Central News Agency, shows Kim Jong Un and his daughter Kim Ju Ae overseeing a rocket launcher test, at an undisclosed location in North Korea. (KCNA via KNS/AFP via Getty Images)
Lee highlighted that the NIS previously referred to Kim Ju Ae as undergoing “successor training.” However, they have now described her status as being at the “successor-designate stage,” marking a significant development, according to the report.
Back in 2023, the NIS informed lawmakers that Kim Jong Un and his wife likely have an older son and a third child whose gender remains unknown, The Associated Press noted.
This picture taken on Jan. 27, 2026, and released by KCNA on Jan. 28, 2026, shows Kim Jong Un and his daughter Kim Ju Ae inspecting the test firing of a rocket launcher system. (KCNA via KNS/AFP via Getty Images)
North Korea is one of the world’s few nuclear-armed nations, making it a unique threat on the global stage.
A 2025 U.S. Intelligence Community Annual Threat Assessment stated, “Kim remains committed to increasing the number of North Korea’s nuclear warheads and improving its missile capabilities to threaten the Homeland and U.S. forces, citizens, and allies, and to weaken U.S. power in the AsiaPacific region, as evidenced by the pace of the North’s missile flight tests and the regime’s public touting of its uranium enrichment capabilities.”
This picture taken on Dec. 20, 2025, and released by KCNA via KNS on Dec. 23, 2025, shows Kim Jong Un and Kim Ju Ae inspecting the Milyong Hotel, in the Samjiyon tourist district of Ryanggang Province. (KCNA via KNS/AFP via Getty Images)
“Russia is increasingly supporting North Korea’s nuclear status in exchange for Pyongyang’s support to Moscow’s war against Ukraine,” the assessment noted.
