SEOUL: North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is reportedly moving to firmly establish his daughter as his future successor, according to a briefing given by South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS) to lawmakers on Thursday.
The NIS said it will be monitoring whether Kim’s daughter, believed to be named Kim Ju Ae, appears at an upcoming meeting of the ruling Workers’ Party — and if so, whether she is introduced with any formal title.
Lawmaker Lee Seong-kweun said that while the NIS previously described Ju Ae as “being studied” as a possible heir, it now believes she is in the process of being “internally designated” as the next leader.
The young teenager has been increasingly visible in North Korean state media, frequently accompanying her father on official visits, including inspections of military facilities and weapons programs. South Korean intelligence officials believe her public role suggests she is already influencing policy and is being treated as a de facto second-in-command.
North Korea has scheduled the inaugural session of the ninth Workers’ Party Congress for late February, where major economic, diplomatic, and military policies are expected to be announced.
Meanwhile, the NIS also reported that Kim is overseeing the construction of a large 8,700-ton submarine potentially capable of carrying up to 10 submarine-launched ballistic missiles. However, it remains uncertain whether the vessel will actually be nuclear-powered or fully operational as planned.
