Kim Jong Un's Daughter Appointed as Successor

South Korean intelligence has reported that Kim Ju Ae, the daughter of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, has essentially entered the stage of being appointed as her father’s successor.

South Korean intelligence also analysed that her frequent appearances in Pyongyang’s state media recently are aimed at instilling her image as a future leader in the minds of North Korean citizens.

This information, as reported by The Asia Business Daily on Tuesday (1/9/2026), was presented by the South Korean National Intelligence Service (NIS) during its latest report to the South Korean National Assembly on Tuesday (1/9).

Several South Korean parliamentarians, namely Yoon Gunyoung and Yoo Youngha, disclosed the NIS report to the media following a closed-door plenary meeting held by the Intelligence Committee of the South Korean National Assembly on the same day.

Yoon stated that Kim Ju Ae’s appearances in North Korean state media underpin the NIS’s view that Kim Jong Un’s daughter has “effectively” been appointed as her father’s successor.

“We consider this as evidence that Kim Ju Ae has effectively entered the stage of appointment as a successor,” Yoon said in his statement.

“We believe there is an intention behind the efforts to ensure she is known as a leader by the citizens of North Korea,” he added.

In recent times, North Korean state media has frequently featured photographs of Kim Ju Ae accompanying her father, Kim Jong Em, at various significant events, including major political functions.

One photograph of Kim Ju Ae that has drawn significant attention shows the young girl at an open firing range last February. She was seen aiming through a rifle scope, with her finger on the trigger, as smoke drifted from the barrel.

According to Yang Moo Jin, former president of the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul, speaking to AFP, the photograph “demonstrates that Kim Ju Ae is indeed receiving training as a successor.”

Meanwhile, regarding the prospects of a summit between North Korea and the United States, Yoon stated that the NIS indicated: “This could be considered possible at any time.”

However, the NIS added that, so far, no concrete contact between Pyongyang and Washington has been confirmed, despite several signs suggesting the possibility of dialogue.