South Korea’s National Intelligence Service said Thursday that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s daughter, Ju-ae, is further consolidating her status as his designated successor, with Pyongyang increasingly portraying her as a future military leader, including through appearances suggesting her involvement in nuclear and missile-related affairs.
Thursday's assessment marks a rare official South Korean confirmation that Kim’s daughter is named Kim Ju-ae, a name North Korean state media have never publicly used, while also reinforcing Seoul’s view that she is being groomed as his successor.
The spy agency delivered the assessment during a closed-door parliamentary audit at its headquarters in Seoul, according to Reps. Youn Kun-young of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea and Yoo Yeong-ha of the main opposition People Power Party, who serve as the respective parties' secretaries on the National Assembly Intelligence Committee.
"An analysis of Kim Ju-ae's public activities in chronological order since her first appearance in 2022 shows that North Korea has been gradually reinforcing her status as a successor," the NIS was quoted as saying.
"We believe this is a strategy aimed at gradually increasing public acceptance of her potential succession."
The agency noted that military-related activities accounted for approximately 60 percent of Ju-ae's public appearances, suggesting that Pyongyang was deliberately cultivating her image as a future military leader.
"Military-related activities account for nearly 60 percent of her public appearances, and she has been building a narrative as a military leader, including by taking commemorative photographs exclusively at military events," the NIS said.
"In the nuclear and missile fields, she has also been portrayed as though she were involved in practical operations."
The NIS also confirmed that the North Korean leader's daughter's actual name is Kim Ju-ae, according to Youn.
Asked whether Kim Ju-ae was her real name, the agency responded, "Her real name is indeed Kim Ju-ae."
The confirmation marked effectively the first time South Korea's intelligence agency had publicly verified her name during a parliamentary briefing.
North Korean state media have never publicly identified Kim Jong-un’s daughter by name, referring to her instead with honorific descriptions such as his “most beloved” or “respected” child.
mkjung@heraldcorp.com
