According to South Korea’s spy agency NIS, Kim Ju Ae, Kim Jong Un’s daughter, will likely succeed her father as North Korea’s leader—though little is known about her since making several public appearances over the last year, increasing speculation about her potential leadership.
Who is Kim Ju Ae?
Ju Ae was first identified as Kim’s daughter in 2013 when former basketball star Dennis Rodman inadvertently revealed her name while holding Kim’s “baby” daughter during a visit to Pyongyang.
According to North Korean state media, Ju Ae was not seen publicly until November 2022, when she appeared alongside her mother, Ri Sol Ju, during a missile firing test at Pyongyang International Airport. She is Kim’s “most beloved” and “respected” child.
According to Cheong Seong-Chang, an analyst for the South Korean-based Sejong Institute, Ju Ae has a younger sibling whose gender and age have not been revealed publicly.
According to the New York Times, Ju Ae attended several public events with her father throughout 2023, including several military events such as military parades, and was most recently seen during New Year’s Day celebrations in Pyongyang.
According to a report released Thursday by the NIS, Ju Ae is Kim’s “most likely successor,” based on her increased presence at public events, the level of respect she receives, and her public reception. The agency stated that there were “a lot of variables at play” because Kim was “still young and without significant health issues.” A senior South Korean official suggested last month that Ju Ae would be named Kim’s successor, adding that her first public appearance had made her “more serious.”
South Korea’s unification minister, Kim Yung Ho, stated that “we cannot rule out the possibility” of Ju Ae ruling North Korea because “they are putting her on the main stage so early.” Ju Ae, according to the NIS, would not be named Kim’s successor because North Korea’s leadership is predominantly patriarchal.