Saudigazette

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South China Morning Post

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Korea Herald

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Yonhap News Agency

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Korea JoongAng Daily

Seoul's intelligence agency believes Kim Jong-un's daughter in process of being named successor

BBC News

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Independent

Kim Jong Un has chosen his 13-year-old daughter as his heir to rule North Korea, spy agency says

Hindustan Times

North Korea's Kim Jong Un chooses teen daughter as successor, says Seoul's spy agency

The Times of India

Kim Jong Un's teenage daughter being positioned as successor, South Korea says

Saffron_Sniper1

New York Post

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South Korea's National Intelligence Service told lawmakers on Thursday that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's daughter, believed to be around 13 years old and widely thought to be named Kim Ju-ae, has reached a successor-designate stage.

South Korea's National Intelligence Service told lawmakers on Thursday that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's daughter, believed to be around 13 years old and widely thought to be named Kim Ju-ae, has reached a successor-designate stage.

Kim Ju-ae first appeared publicly in November 2022 at a long-range missile test and has since accompanied her father to weapons tests, military parades and a September 2025 summit in Beijing with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Kim Ju-ae first appeared publicly in November 2022 at a long-range missile test and has since accompanied her father to weapons tests, military parades and a September 2025 summit in Beijing with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

In January, Kim Ju-ae joined her parents on a visit to the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun, a mausoleum housing the embalmed bodies of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il.

Saffron Sniper

In January, Kim Ju-ae joined her parents on a visit to the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun, a mausoleum housing the embalmed bodies of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il.

The NIS cited her growing presence at military events and signs that Kim Jong Un has begun seeking her input on certain policy matters as factors behind the assessment that she has entered the successor-designate stage.

The NIS cited her growing presence at military events and signs that Kim Jong Un has begun seeking her input on certain policy matters as factors behind the assessment that she has entered the successor-designate stage.

North Korea is preparing to hold its Workers' Party Congress later this month, and the NIS said it will monitor whether Kim Ju-ae appears at the event and the level of protocol accorded to her.

North Korea is preparing to hold its Workers' Party Congress later this month, and the NIS said it will monitor whether Kim Ju-ae appears at the event and the level of protocol accorded to her.

Since its founding in 1948, North Korea has been ruled exclusively by male members of the Kim family, beginning with Kim Il Sung, followed by Kim Jong Il and now Kim Jong Un.

Since its founding in 1948, North Korea has been ruled exclusively by male members of the Kim family, beginning with Kim Il Sung, followed by Kim Jong Il and now Kim Jong Un.

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South Korea's National Intelligence Service told lawmakers that Kim Jong Un's daughter, believed to be around 13 years old and widely thought to be named Kim Ju Ae, has reached a successor-designate stage, marking a shift from previous assessments.

South Korea's National Intelligence Service told lawmakers that Kim Jong Un's daughter, believed to be around 13 years old and widely thought to be named Kim Ju Ae, has reached a successor-designate stage, marking a shift from previous assessments.

Kim Ju Ae first appeared publicly in November 2022 at a long-range missile test and has since accompanied her father to weapons tests, military parades and a summit in Beijing with Chinese President Xi Jinping in September 2025.

Kim Ju Ae first appeared publicly in November 2022 at a long-range missile test and has since accompanied her father to weapons tests, military parades and a summit in Beijing with Chinese President Xi Jinping in September 2025.

In January, Kim Ju Ae joined her parents on a visit to the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun, a mausoleum housing the embalmed bodies of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il, which some experts view as a signal of her positioning as heir.

In January, Kim Ju Ae joined her parents on a visit to the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun, a mausoleum housing the embalmed bodies of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il, which some experts view as a signal of her positioning as heir.

The National Intelligence Service cited her growing presence at military events and signs that Kim Jong Un has begun seeking her input on certain policy matters as factors behind the assessment that she has entered the successor-designate stage.

The National Intelligence Service cited her growing presence at military events and signs that Kim Jong Un has begun seeking her input on certain policy matters as factors behind the assessment that she has entered the successor-designate stage.

North Korea is preparing to hold its Workers' Party Congress later this month, and the National Intelligence Service said it will monitor whether Kim Ju Ae appears at the event and the level of protocol accorded to her.

North Korea is preparing to hold its Workers' Party Congress later this month, and the National Intelligence Service said it will monitor whether Kim Ju Ae appears at the event and the level of protocol accorded to her.

Since its founding in 1948, North Korea has been ruled exclusively by male members of the Kim family, beginning with Kim Il Sung, followed by Kim Jong Il and now Kim Jong Un, making a potential female successor a historic shift.

Since its founding in 1948, North Korea has been ruled exclusively by male members of the Kim family, beginning with Kim Il Sung, followed by Kim Jong Il and now Kim Jong Un, making a potential female successor a historic shift.

Dismissing claims about Kim Ju-ae as successor ignores basic realities of North Korean power structures. No socialist country has ever elevated a daughter to leadership, and the regime's deeply patriarchal, militarized society makes female succession virtually impossible. Past successions were shrouded in total secrecy for years, yet Ju-ae's unusually public exposure contradicts every historical precedent.

Dismissing claims about Kim Ju-ae as successor ignores basic realities of North Korean power structures. No socialist country has ever elevated a daughter to leadership, and the regime's deeply patriarchal, militarized society makes female succession virtually impossible. Past successions were shrouded in total secrecy for years, yet Ju-ae's unusually public exposure contradicts every historical precedent.

Kim Ju-ae has clearly moved beyond mere training to formal successor designation. South Korean intelligence confirms she's providing input on state policies and receiving the same "great person of guidance" title as her father. Her prominent presence at military events and party functions signals deliberate preparation for leadership succession.

Kim Ju-ae has clearly moved beyond mere training to formal successor designation. South Korean intelligence confirms she's providing input on state policies and receiving the same "great person of guidance" title as her father. Her prominent presence at military events and party functions signals deliberate preparation for leadership succession.

Kim Jong Un's Daughter Named Successor-Designate at 13

North Korea

Politics

South Korea

Spreading claims about Kim Ju-ae as a successor ignores the basic realities of North Korean power structures. No socialist country has ever elevated a daughter to leadership, and the regime's deeply patriarchal, militarized society makes female succession virtually impossible. Past successions were shrouded in total secrecy for years, which makes NIS' intelligence assessments questionable.

Spreading claims about Kim Ju-ae as a successor ignores the basic realities of North Korean power structures. No socialist country has ever elevated a daughter to leadership, and the regime's deeply patriarchal, militarized society makes female succession virtually impossible. Past successions were shrouded in total secrecy for years, which makes NIS' intelligence assessments questionable.

There's a 50% chance that Kim Jong Un will no longer be the leader of North Korea by March 2044, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

There's a 50% chance that Kim Jong Un will no longer be the leader of North Korea by March 2044, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

Report: Kim Jong Un's Daughter Named Successor-Designate

Report: Kim Jong Un's Daughter Named Successor-Designate at 13

The Spin

Metaculus Prediction

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