Video: Watson/Lucas Zollinger
Apr 6, 2026, 11:04 amApril 8, 2026, 4:25 p.m
The South Korean secret service NIS considers the daughter of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to be his political successor. “This is not a verdict based on simple evidence, but on intelligence information,” said NIS director Lee Jong Seok, South Korea’s official Yonhap news agency reported. Lee made the comments during a parliamentary briefing.
Video: Watson/Lucas Zollinger
Recently, Kim Jong Un’s daughter made frequent appearances during visits to the army. In mid-March, North Korea’s state news agency KCNA published photos in which the young girl appeared to be driving a tank at a military training base alongside her father. According to the intelligence agency NIS, this should dispel doubts about a female leader. Until now, patriarchal North Korea has been ruled exclusively by men – the country’s founder Kim Il Sung, his son Kim Jong Il and grandson Kim Jong Un.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un observes a military exercise on March 20, 2026. At his side: daughter Kim Ju Ae, who could one day become his successor.Image: www.imago-images.de
Kim Jong Un’s daughter was first seen in state media photos in 2022. Since then, she has accompanied her father on several official occasions, including several missile tests and a state visit to China. However, little is officially known about her so far. Neither her age nor her name have been officially confirmed by North Korean state media. According to ex-basketball professional Dennis Rodman, who met Kim in person in North Korea in 2013, the daughter’s first name is “Ju Ae”. Her age is estimated to be around 13 or 14.
Minors also shoot in North Korea: Kim Ju Ae subjects a pistol to a functional test during a visit to an ammunition factory.Image: www.imago-images.de
However, the assessment of Kim’s political successor is controversial. Some experts believe that Kim Jong Un may have other children in addition to his daughter; including a son who could be presented to the public at a later date. (sda/dpa)