Kim Jong-un Names Daughter as Successor: What We Know

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un appears to be positioning his daughter, Kim Ju-ae, as his eventual successor, according to a report from South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS) on Thursday. The assessment is based on a “series of circumstances,” but primarily on Kim Ju-ae’s increasingly visible role in recent months. The move is being closely watched internationally as it signals a potential shift in the dynastic leadership of the isolated nation.

Years of Appearances at State Events

Kim Ju-ae, believed to be between 12 and 14 years old, has been increasingly present at state occasions since 2022. She was photographed inspecting an intercontinental ballistic missile alongside her father, participated in military celebrations, and made her first foreign trip in September, traveling to Beijing for a large military parade. In official photographs, she now frequently stands next to her father, sometimes at the same height, a visual cue interpreted as signaling her growing status.

According to lawmaker Lee Seong-kwen, Kim Ju-ae is no longer simply in a phase of “training,” but has entered a stage of formal succession designation. You’ll see indications she is already offering opinions on state affairs. She may as well have a prominent role at the upcoming party congress – the most important political meeting held every five years – where Pyongyang typically sets its goals for foreign policy, military strategy, and its nuclear program.

An Heiress in a Patriarchal Society

Kim Ju-ae is the only officially acknowledged child of Kim Jong-un and his wife, Ri Sol Ju. Although the intelligence agency believes there is an older son, he has never been publicly shown. The decision to groom a daughter as heir is noteworthy, as North Korea is considered a strongly patriarchal society where female leadership was long considered unthinkable. Though, Kim’s sister, Kim Yo-jong, already holds an influential position within the regime, potentially serving as a precedent.

Observers are also questioning why Kim Jong-un is designating a 13-year-old as his successor. The leader is still young and appears to be in stable health. What political changes a future leadership under Ju-ae would bring remains entirely open. This decision could reshape the future of the country and its relations with the international community.

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Reto Bollmann (bre), born in 1991, has been strengthening the news desk of 20 minutes as an editor since the end of 2021. He has a preference for political, scientific and historical topics.