South Korean intelligence officials say they have reliable evidence that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is preparing his teenage daughter to take over the isolated nation, according to lawmakers briefed on the assessment Monday.
The National Intelligence Service told parliamentary members that their conclusion stems from what they called “credible intelligence” rather than speculation, following a closed-door briefing attended by both ruling and opposition party representatives.
Intelligence officials pointed to recent propaganda footage showing Kim’s daughter operating a tank as evidence designed to showcase her military credentials and address potential concerns about a female successor, lawmakers reported.
North Korea’s official news agency KCNA released photographs last month depicting Kim and his daughter driving a new tank, adding to previous images that showed her shooting rifles and handling pistols at firing ranges.
These military-themed photo opportunities mirror Kim Jong Un’s own public appearances during the early 2010s when his father was preparing him for leadership, noted ruling Democratic Party lawmaker Park Sun-won, who described the scenes as paying “homage” to that earlier succession period.
The intelligence agency’s latest evaluation represents an upgrade from previous assessments that suggested the girl, believed to be approximately 13 years old and named Ju Ae, was simply being prepared for potential succession.
According to lawmakers citing the intelligence briefing, Ju Ae’s frequent appearances at military and defense events aims to reduce skepticism about female leadership while building a succession storyline.
Previous intelligence reports indicated the agency views her growing public profile as evidence she’s already functioning as the second-most powerful figure in North Korea’s hierarchy.
People Power Party lawmaker Lee Seong-kweun said intelligence officials dismissed speculation that Kim’s sister Kim Yo Jong might oppose the focus on Ju Ae, noting that Kim Yo Jong lacks independent authority.
However, some regional experts cautioned against reading too much into the tank imagery as definitive proof of succession planning.
Hong Min, a researcher at the Korea Institute for National Unification, argued that Ju Ae’s tank appearance alone doesn’t confirm her status as heir apparent, pointing out that she appeared with her father rather than alone, unlike Kim Jong Un’s independent military demonstrations during his preparation for power.
