SEOUL: South Korea’s intelligence agency has said it now believes North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s teenage daughter is being positioned as his successor, citing what it described as “credible intelligence” rather than speculation.
The assessment was shared by the National Intelligence Service (NIS) during a closed-door briefing with lawmakers on Monday, according to members of both the ruling and opposition parties.
Officials said the conclusion follows her increasingly prominent appearances at military and state events.
A recent public appearance showing the teenager driving a tank alongside her father was seen as a significant signal.
According to lawmakers briefed by the NIS, the images were likely intended to showcase her military aptitude and address doubts about the possibility of a female successor in North Korea’s leadership structure.
North Korea’s state-run media had earlier released photographs of the girl, widely believed to be around 13 years old and known as Ju Ae, taking part in military-related activities, including driving a new tank, firing a rifle at a shooting range, and handling a handgun.
Lawmakers said these carefully staged appearances resemble the military-focused public events attended by Kim Jong Un himself during the early 2010s, when he was being prepared to succeed his father, Kim Jong Il.
The latest assessment marks a shift from earlier intelligence reports, which had suggested that Ju Ae was only being groomed for a possible future leadership role.
The NIS now believes efforts to establish a succession narrative around her are accelerating.
Lawmakers also quoted the agency as saying that speculation regarding Kim Yo Jong’s dissatisfaction over the focus on Ju Ae was misplaced, adding that she does not hold independent power within the regime.
However, some experts have urged caution in interpreting the images as definitive proof of succession.
Analysts noted that while her public appearances are significant, they do not yet conclusively confirm that Ju Ae has been formally named heir, particularly as she continues to appear alongside her father rather than independently.