From Training to Designation: A Notable Upgrade (Image Credits: Unsplash)
Seoul – South Korea’s National Intelligence Service reported to lawmakers that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s teenage daughter has advanced into the designation phase as his potential successor.[1]
From Training to Designation: A Notable Upgrade
Officials from the National Intelligence Service delivered the update during a closed-door briefing on Thursday. They described the daughter, believed to be around 13 years old and named Kim Ju Ae, as having entered the “successor-designate stage.” This terminology marked a departure from prior evaluations.[2]
Lawmaker Lee Seong Kweun, who attended the session, highlighted the change. Previously, assessments referred to her as undergoing “successor training.” Now, analysts pointed to evidence of her involvement in policy discussions and prominent event appearances.[3]
The shift reflected observations of her elevated profile since her public debut in late 2022. Intelligence experts viewed these developments as steps to solidify her position within the tightly controlled regime.
High-Profile Appearances Build Her Profile
Kim Ju Ae first emerged publicly at a missile test site in November 2022. She later joined her father at weapons inspections, military parades, and factory visits. State media portrayed her as the leader’s “respected child” without using her full name.[1]
Her international exposure came during Kim Jong Un’s September trip to Beijing for talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Such outings signaled an intent to craft a narrative around her future role. Domestically, she attended key anniversaries, including the Korean People’s Army founding event.
- Missile tests and weapons project reviews
- Military parades and factory openings
- Beijing summit sidelines in September
- Korean People’s Army anniversary
Landmark Visit to Ancestral Mausoleum
Last month, Kim Ju Ae accompanied her parents to Pyongyang’s Kumsusan Palace of the Sun on New Year’s Day. The site houses the embalmed bodies of her grandfather, Kim Il Sung, and great-grandfather, Kim Jong Il – North Korea’s founding leaders. This marked her first such tribute.
Analyst Cheong Seong-Chang of the Sejong Institute called the outing a symbolic presentation of her as heir before family patriarchs. The National Intelligence Service cited this alongside her policy input signs as pivotal.[1]
North Korea’s leadership tradition has favored male heirs since 1948. Yet Kim Jong Un’s own rapid rise at age 26 after his father’s 2008 stroke may explain the early grooming of his daughter.
Party Congress Looms as Key Test
North Korea scheduled its Workers’ Party Congress for late February – the ninth such gathering since 2016. Leader Kim Jong Un planned to detail five-year policy priorities there amid economic and defense focuses.
Intelligence watchers eyed whether Kim Ju Ae would appear before delegates or receive a title like first party secretary. Party rules set an 18-year-old minimum, so signals might prove subtle, such as regime praise for revolutionary inheritance.[4]
Former unification institute head Koh Yu-hwan suggested such rhetoric would confirm her status. The event could formalize dynasty extension to a fourth generation.
Key Takeaways
- Kim Ju Ae’s status evolved from “training” to “designation” per Seoul’s spies.
- Recent mausoleum visit and policy role hints underscore her rise.
- Workers’ Party Congress may reveal next steps in succession.
These moves challenge assumptions about North Korea’s male-only leadership line and invite global scrutiny on Pyongyang’s opaque power transitions. What signals do you see in her rising profile? Share your views in the comments.
