South Korea’s intelligence agency believes that Kim Jong Un’s teenage daughter, reportedly named Kim Ju Ae and around 13 years old, is being positioned as his successor, marking a potential fourth-generation leadership in North Korea.

Intelligence officials note her increasingly prominent appearances at missile tests, military parades, factory openings, and diplomatic events, including a 2023 visit to Beijing with her father.

Her presence at the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun, a sacred site for the Kim family, further signals her rising political profile.

Analysts suggest the upcoming Workers’ Party Congress may provide subtle cues or formalize her succession, possibly through high-ranking party roles, though North Korea’s male-dominated traditions and party age rules may delay overt acknowledgment, NPR has reported.

Kim Jong Un’s early grooming of his daughter appears influenced by his own experience being rapidly thrust into power after his father’s death, reflecting a long-term plan to secure the family dynasty.