North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, often seen as a harsh dictator, is said to be preparing his teenage daughter, Kim Jue, as his potential successor in the isolated country.
According to South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS), the girl, who appears to be around 13 years old, might become the fourth generation of the Kim family to rule North Korea, marking a significant moment as she would also be the first woman leading a communist regime.
Kim, who is 42, has been spotted accompanying his daughter during various public engagements, such as visiting military projects and newly built hotels. These appear to be part of a broader propaganda effort aimed at boosting tourism. State media has shared images of the young potential leader alongside her father in hotel settings.
Recently, Chue, along with her parents, visited the Geumsusan Palace of the Sun in Pyongyang, where they paid respects to the embalmed remains of her grandfather, Kim Jong Il, and great-grandfather, Kim Il Sung, who founded the Workers’ Party of Korea with Soviet support after World War II.
This information surfaces as the nation gears up for a political conference later this month, during which Kim is likely to outline his domestic and international policies for the next five years. The NIS aims to keep a close watch on whether he includes his daughter in this significant event.
South Korean lawmaker Lee Seung-kwon noted after a recent closed-door NIS meeting, “Previously, the NIS stated Kim Ju Ae was ‘under consideration as a successor,’ but the tone has shifted to ‘We are at the stage of internally appointing her as a successor.’”
However, it remains uncertain if Kim’s selection of a successor suggests he will step back from his leadership role anytime soon.
According to Lee and fellow lawmaker Park Sung-won, the NIS believes her involvement in public functions indicates that she is starting to contribute to policymaking and is being regarded as a de facto second-rank leader.
Kim assumed control of the country in 2011 after the death of his father and made history as the first U.S. president to enter North Korea during a meeting with President Donald Trump in 2019.
