At Just 14, Kim Ju Ae Already Being Prepared by Kim Jong Un to Lead North Korea: The Facts
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is reported to have begun taking steps to strengthen the position of his daughter, Kim Ju Ae, as his potential successor. There are indications that the girl, currently aged between 13 and 14, is already contributing her views on policy matters.
This was disclosed by South Korean parliamentarians on Thursday local time, citing a briefing from the intelligence agency. South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS) will be monitoring whether Kim’s daughter, believed to be named Kim Ju Ae, will attend an upcoming ruling Workers’ Party meeting. They will also observe how she is introduced at the event, including the possible conferral of an official title.
“Previously, the NIS described Kim Ju Ae as still ‘in the learning stage as a successor’. However, today the terminology used is that she is ‘in the stage of internal designation as successor’,” said parliamentarian Lee Seong-kweun to reporters after attending a closed-door NIS briefing, as quoted by Reuters on Monday, 16 February 2026.
Kim Ju Ae, estimated to be in her early teens, has been appearing with increasing frequency in North Korean state media. She has often accompanied her father to various field activities, including inspections of weapons projects. Analysts view this as part of the process of preparing her to become the country’s fourth-generation leader.
According to the NIS, Kim Ju Ae’s role in various public events indicates that she has begun contributing to policy input and is being treated as the de facto number two leader. This was conveyed by Lee together with fellow parliamentarian Park Sun-won.
North Korea has announced that the Workers’ Party will hold the opening meeting of its 9th Congress in late February. Analysts expect the forum to set out key policy directions for the coming years, covering the economy, foreign relations, and defence.
Meanwhile, Kim Jong Un is also reported to be directing the development of a large submarine potentially capable of carrying up to 10 submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs). Weighing approximately 8,700 tonnes, the vessel is suspected to have been designed using a nuclear reactor as its power source, according to Park and Lee.
Nevertheless, it remains uncertain whether the submarine will indeed be nuclear-powered or whether it can operate as originally designed. This assessment is based on analysis by South Korea’s intelligence agency.