Kim’s young daughter looks more likely to be North Korea’s next leader

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. SEOUL—The young daughter of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un appears increasingly positioned to become the rogue nation’s next leader, Seoul’s spy agency said, though Pyongyang itself has stayed mum on succession plans. Kim Ju Ae, believed to be about 13 years old, has attracted widespread speculation since first appearing in public more than three years ago.

She has become a fixture at North Korean events ever since—often referred to in state media as the “beloved child." Though her image is ubiquitous in North Korea, Pyongyang has divulged little about the girl. Her full name, age and future role have never been articulated. Kim Jong Un, who himself just turned 42 years old, is believed to have three children, including an eldest son, according to a 2023 assessment by Seoul’s spy agency.

Kim Ju Ae is the middle child. The gender of the youngest child is unknown. Deciphering whether Kim Jong Un is merely a doting father or a long-term planner is what has drawn intense debate.

On Thursday, South Korean intelligence officials told lawmakers they had spotted indications that Kim Ju Ae was in the stage of being designated as a successor, according to a legislator who attended the closed-door meeting. Previously, the spy agency had said it appeared she had received succession training. As rationale for the shift in thinking, intelligence officials pointed to the girl attending more marquee military celebrations, as well as a recent New Year’s Day visit to the sacred mausoleum where the embalmed bodies of her late grandfather and great-grandfather, both former North Korean leaders, are on display.