Is North Korea preparing for a teenage ruler? South Korea’s spy agency says yes.
Lawmakers were told that Kim Jong Un has effectively chosen his daughter, Kim Ju Ae — believed to be just 13 — as his successor.
It’s a remarkable claim. Ju Ae has increasingly appeared at high-profile events: missile tests, military anniversaries, even a visit to Beijing.
According to the National Intelligence Service, she’s moved beyond “training” and into the stage of “successor designation.”
One lawmaker said signs suggest she’s even voicing opinions on state policy.
Symbolism matters in Pyongyang. Recently, Ju Ae has been pictured walking beside her father — not trailing behind him.
Heir Spotlight Emerges
In a regime where images are choreographed down to the inch, that’s no small detail.
Still, questions linger. North Korea is deeply patriarchal. Why elevate a daughter over a reportedly older son?
Some analysts point to Kim Yo Jong as proof that powerful women can rise within the regime.
And why now? Kim Jong Un is young and appears healthy.
When he took power, some hoped his Western education would soften the regime.
It didn’t. If Ju Ae truly is the heir, the world may one day find out what kind of leader a teenager raised in absolute power chooses to become.
