Seoul: North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's daughter, Ju-ae, is poised to succeed her father, according to South Korea's National Intelligence Service (NIS) Director Lee Jong-seok. During a closed-door briefing to the parliamentary intelligence committee, Lee shared the agency's most definitive assessment of the teenager's status as a successor, as reported by Reps. Park Sun-won and Lee Seong-kweun.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Ju-ae has recently been prominently featured in state media, including an event where she drove a battle tank with her father. This visibility is seen as an effort to address skepticism about a female successor and to establish a succession narrative. The NIS director emphasized that the assessment is based on credible intelligence rather than mere speculation.
Reports from North Korean state media last month showcased Kim Jong-un overseeing a drill with new battle tanks, with images of Ju-ae, believed to be in her teens, driving a tank carrying her father and military personnel. This appears to highlight Ju-ae's military capabilities, drawing parallels to Kim Jong-un's own appearances aboard tanks before succeeding his father, Kim Jong-il.
While Ju-ae is seen as a potential successor due to her increasing visibility at major domestic events, the NIS also noted that Kim Jong-un's sister, Kim Yo-jong, holds no real power, addressing inquiries about her potential dissatisfaction with her niece's role.
The NIS further reported significant changes in Kim Jong-un's leadership status following a recent ruling party congress and its rubber-stamp legislature, with a noticeable lack of emphasis on the roles of his predecessors.
Additionally, the NIS provided insights into North Korea's defense developments, including the recent test of a new missile engine made with carbon fiber material. This test is speculated to aim for a lighter missile body and the development of multiple-warhead capabilities, aligning with a five-year national defense development plan reported by state media last month.
In international relations, the NIS noted that North Korea has not sent weapons or supplies to Iran, a traditional ally, during the ongoing conflict. Pyongyang also refrained from sending condolences when Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was killed or congratulations when his second son was elected as the new leader.
The NIS speculated on North Korea's diplomatic strategy, preparing for potential diplomacy following a planned summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in May. The agency also assessed that the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran might de-escalate by late April, contingent on possible U.S. military actions in the coming days. President Trump recently reiterated threats against Iran, targeting its power infrastructure and strategic locations like the Strait of Hormuz.