North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has reportedly designated his daughter, Kim Ju Ae, as his successor ahead of a key party conference, a South Korean lawmaker revealed on Thursday, February 12, 2026.
According to a report by AFP, lawmaker Lee Seong-kweun stated that South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS) now assesses that Ju Ae is clearly “designated as a successor.” This conclusion was reached after considering a range of factors, including her increasingly frequent appearances at state events.
Lee added that the NIS has also detected indications that Ju Ae is beginning to participate in discussions regarding government policies.
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The assessment was made “by taking into account a range of circumstances, including her increasingly prominent presence at official events,” Lee said.
Photographs released in the lead-up to North Korea’s political congress later this month further support this view.
The Kim family has ruled North Korea for decades, cultivating a powerful cult of personality around the “Paektu bloodline.” In recent years, Ju Ae has frequently accompanied Kim Jong Un at a number of strategic events, including military activities and state occasions. This move to elevate his daughter signals a potential shift in the country’s leadership structure and could have significant implications for regional stability.
North Korean state media showcased Ju Ae alongside her father paying respects at the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun in January, the mausoleum of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il. This moment further fueled speculation about her status as a potential successor.
North Korea is scheduled to hold a party congress later in February. The major political forum is expected to outline the country’s foreign policy direction, defense strategies, and five-year nuclear program plans.
(eva/fas)
