North Korea grooms teen daughter as potential successor, spy agency says

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s daughter, Ju-ae, appears to be the next in line to succeed her father, South Korea’s spy chief told lawmakers, marking the agency’s most definitive assessment yet of the teenager as a potential heir.

National Intelligence Service (NIS) Director Lee Jong-seok made the remarks during a closed-door briefing to the parliamentary intelligence committee, according to Representatives Park Sun-won of the Democratic Party and Lee Seong-kweun of the People Power Party, Yonhap reports.

“(She) can be seen as the successor,” the NIS director said when asked about Ju-ae’s status. “This is not a judgement based on mere signs but on credible intelligence.”

Ju-ae has recently featured prominently in state media reports, including images of her driving a battle tank alongside her father. Lawmakers cited the NIS as saying, “Ju-ae has recently made appearances in defence-related sectors. This is assessed to be aimed at diluting skepticism around a female successor and accelerating efforts to build a succession narrative.”

Last month, North Korean state media reported that Kim oversaw a drill involving new battle tanks, releasing photos of Ju-ae, believed to be in her teens, driving one carrying her father and military personnel. The NIS suggested the report was intended to emphasize her military capabilities and draw parallels to Kim’s own early appearances aboard tanks before he succeeded his father, Kim Jong-il.

Ju-ae’s growing visibility alongside her father at major domestic events has fueled speculation about her succession prospects, marking a potential historic shift in a leadership line dominated by three generations of men in the Kim family over nearly eight decades.

The NIS assessment also dismissed the influence of Kim’s sister, Kim Yo-jong, noting she “holds no real power” and is unlikely to challenge her niece’s status. The agency highlighted structural changes in Kim’s leadership through recent party and legislative sessions, pointing to an apparent de-emphasis on his predecessors’ roles.

On military developments, the NIS noted North Korea’s recent test of a new missile engine made with carbon fiber material, potentially aimed at achieving lighter missile bodies and developing multiple-warhead capabilities. State media reported Kim oversaw the test of the upgraded engine, which has a maximum thrust of 2,500 kilonewtons, as part of a five-year national defence development plan.

The NIS further reported that during the ongoing war, North Korea has not sent weapons or supplies to Iran, with whom Pyongyang has traditionally maintained close ties. It also did not send condolences following the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, nor did it congratulate Tehran’s new leader.

The spy agency speculated that North Korea may be preparing space for diplomatic maneuvering ahead of a planned US-China summit between President Donald Trump and President Xi Jinping in May. Additionally, the NIS suggested that the US-Israeli conflict with Iran could wind down by late April, depending on potential strikes in the coming days.

Trump renewed threats on April 5 to destroy Iran’s power plants and bridges if the Islamic Republic does not reopen the Strait of Hormuz, heightening global tensions.

By Vafa Guliyeva