SEOUL, South Korea — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is conducting successor programs with implications that he has his 11-year-old daughter in mind “as of now” to be his successor, South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS) said in a closed-door briefing to the members of the National Assembly on Monday.
Curiosity over Kim Jong Un’s preteen daughter, as known as Kim Ju Ae in the last two years, has been accumulating since she first accompanied him holding hands to the ICBM test launch site in November 2022 wearing a white padded jacket and bright red flat shoes.
She appeared again three months later at the military parade marking the 75th anniversary of the army. She walked the red carpet with Kim while dressed in a formal long black coat highlighted by a fur scarf and beret. The father-daughter duo proudly received military salutes while more than a dozen high-level North Korean officials in full uniforms tagged behind.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, center right, reviews an honor guard with his daughter, center left, and his wife Ri Sol Ju during a military parade on Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang, North Korea, Feb. 8, 2023.
Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP,FILE
“Dressing up in dark, extravagant clothes makes her look like a mini version of Kim Jong Un, and that is exactly what the regime wants people to see of her,” Professor Jeon Young Sun of Konkuk University told ABC News. “The regime is deliberately differentiating her from other kids her age, to show that her ancestry is of the revered Kim leadership.”
Since her first appearance in 2022, Rodong Sinmun, North Korea’s state newspaper, reported her whereabouts at least 28 times. Kim Ju Ae was spotted at missile launch sites, military parades and drills most of the time, including rare tag-along to factories and city construction sites.
“Important to note that she was never depicted at a place that was child-like, never somewhere an ordinary father would take his 10-year-old daughter to,” Professor Andrei Lankov of Kukmin University told ABC News. “The regime doesn’t want her to look like a child, she should look like an emerging boss. Although it is a bit early to say for sure, if she is to become the leader, she could say that she spent all her childhood visiting military facilities.”
Until now, analysts in Seoul have been skeptical of the speculation that Kim’s 11-year-old daughter may become the next North Korean leader, given that North Korea is a strongly male-centered society. Kim Ju Ae’s frequent public appearances have not only got analysts scratching their heads but also the public inside the hermit kingdom. A North Korean defector who fled to the South last October told ABC News that the public opinion was not favorable to the young fancy daughter where he came from.
“When I first saw Kim Ju Ae in the news, from head to toe she was what we call ‘impure element’ to the society,” Mincheol Lee told ABC News referring to Kim Ju Ae’s imported designer clothes and long hair when she appeared in the papers. “I was angry to see that she could dress up like she wanted to because she was the leader’s daughter while a farmer’s son like myself had to follow the strict suppression from the People’s Party,” referring to North Korea’s strict social policies on people’s outfits and hairstyles especially imposed upon the younger generations.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Premier Kim Tok Hun visit a flood-affected area near the border with China, in North Pyongan Province, North Korea, in this undated photo released July 31, 2024 by North Korea’s official Korean Central News Agency.
KCNA via Reuters
According to the NIS, the North Korean regime is adjusting how often the young Kim Ju Ae appears in public in certain events — mostly at sensitive militaristic occasions and less at economy-related matter — and to what degree she should be propagandized to the people. Based on updated intelligence the spy agency confirmed that they now see Pyongyang as planning the succession program for real.
“Kim Jong Un had a difficult time consolidating his power and position due to his father the late leader Kim Jong Il’s early passing and consequently getting hasty successor lessons,” Cheong Seong Chang, director of Center for Korean Peninsula Strategy at Seoul-based Sejong Institute, whose analysis pointed to Kim Ju Ae to be the successor from her first appearance, told to ABC News. “Kim Jong Un’s unfavorable health conditions may be the background for beginning the successor program so early.”
The spy agency has not completely ruled out the possibility of a change in successor, based on the fact that North Korea did not finalize their announcement on the successor and the chance of having another undisclosed sibling.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un steps off a train during a visit to a flood-affected area near the border with China, in North Pyongan Province, North Korea, in this undated photo released July 31, 2024 by North Korea’s official Korean Central News Agency.
KCNA via Reuters
“South Korean authorities have speculated for a long time that there is an elder son among Kim Jong Un’s children, but they found no existing evidence to back the guess, and have recently turned prudent,” Cheong said.
The spy agency also updated on Kim Jong Un’s health. Kim is estimated to weigh about 300 pounds and is believed to be at high risk for heart disease, the agency said. The agency estimates that his body mass index is in the mid-40s, far exceeding the normal standard of 25.
It is understood that this is due to stress, cigarettes and alcohol, the agency said. If his current health condition is not improved, the possibility of cardiovascular disease, which is a family history, is being closely monitored, the agency said. Seoul’s NIS also reported that they have detected indications that North Korean officials are looking for new drugs to treat Kim.
According to recent intelligence reports, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is reportedly grooming his daughter, Kim Yo Jong, as his successor. This news has sparked speculation and intrigue about the future leadership of the secretive and isolated nation.
Kim Yo Jong, who is believed to be in her early thirties, has been rising in prominence within the North Korean regime in recent years. She currently serves as the Vice Director of the Propaganda and Agitation Department of the Workers’ Party of Korea, a position that has given her significant influence and visibility.
The idea of a female leader in North Korea is unprecedented, as the country has been ruled by a male dynasty since its founding. However, Kim Yo Jong’s close relationship with her brother, Kim Jong Un, and her involvement in high-level diplomatic meetings, including the 2018 Winter Olympics in South Korea, have raised speculation that she is being groomed for a leadership role.
It is important to note that North Korea is known for its secretive and unpredictable nature, and information about the inner workings of the regime is often difficult to verify. However, intelligence agencies from various countries have been closely monitoring the situation in North Korea and have reported on Kim Jong Un’s efforts to prepare his daughter for a potential leadership role.
The succession question in North Korea is of particular interest to the international community, as the country’s nuclear capabilities and human rights abuses have made it a source of concern for many countries. The prospect of a new leader, especially one with limited experience like Kim Yo Jong, raises questions about the future direction of North Korea and its relations with other countries.
While it is still unclear when or if Kim Yo Jong will officially assume power in North Korea, her increasing prominence within the regime suggests that she is being positioned for a leadership role. As the situation continues to evolve, it will be important for intelligence agencies and policymakers to closely monitor developments in North Korea and prepare for any potential changes in leadership.
