Succession, siblings and secrets: Why Kim Jong Un’s ‘beloved daughter’ is at the centre of North Korea’s power puzzle

(FILES) North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and his daughter Kim Ju Ae attend a ceremony to celebrate the completion of the Wonsan Kalma Coastal Tourist Zone, in Wonsan, in North Korea, June 24, 2025.

Kim Jong Un’s teenage daughter, Kim Ju Ae, is increasingly seen as a possible successor in North Korea, sparking debate and concerns about internal power struggles. Her public role has expanded, with South Korean intelligence closely monitoring developments.

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Fresh speculation is swirling around Kim Jong Un’s succession plans after a series of public signals suggested that his teenage daughter, Kim Ju Ae, could be positioned as the next leader of North Korea.

South Korea’s intelligence community and lawmakers say Ju Ae’s rapidly expanding public role has gone beyond symbolism, triggering debate over whether the Kim dynasty is preparing its first female successor. Analysts caution that if true, the move could destabilise internal power dynamics within the ruling family.

Intelligence signals from Seoul

The theory gained traction after a closed-door briefing by South Korea’s National Intelligence Service. Lawmakers later told reporters that the agency believes Kim Jong Un has “entered the stage of nominating her as successor.”

According to the briefing, Ju Ae’s role is no longer limited to ceremonial appearances. Lawmakers said she has “expressed opinions on some measures” in policy discussions, a highly unusual development in a regime known for secrecy and rigid hierarchy.

South Korean intelligence agencies are expected to closely monitor an upcoming major political assembly later this month. It will be the country’s first such gathering in five years. Lawmakers said the NIS will watch whether Ju Ae attends, how she is treated, and whether she is granted any formal title.

A possible family power struggle

Experts warn that any move to elevate Ju Ae could provoke resistance from within the ruling family. Rah Jong-yil, former South Korean ambassador to the UK and former deputy director of Seoul’s intelligence service, told The Telegraph that succession would not be straightforward.

“It depends on the timing, but I believe that if Kim Yo-jong believes she has a chance of becoming the top leader, she would take it,” Rah said.

Kim Yo-jong, 38, is widely regarded as the second most powerful figure in North Korea. She exerts significant influence over the military, propaganda apparatus, and bureaucracy. Analysts believe she could challenge any attempt to sideline her in favour of a teenage successor.

Who is Kim Ju Ae?

Kim Ju Ae is believed to be in her early teens, although her exact age has never been confirmed. She is the only one of Kim Jong Un’s children to be publicly acknowledged by state media, which consistently refers to her as the “beloved daughter” and “dear daughter.”

Western intelligence agencies believe Kim has three children, with Ju Ae identified as the middle child. This information cannot be independently verified due to the regime’s opacity.

Ju Ae first entered the global spotlight in 2013, when American basketball player Dennis Rodman visited Pyongyang. Rodman later told The Guardian, “I held their baby Ju Ae and spoke with (Kim’s wife) as well.”

From obscurity to missile launches

Ju Ae remained hidden from public view for nearly a decade. That changed in 2022, when she appeared alongside her father during the launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile. Images showed Kim holding the hand of a young girl in front of the missile, widely believed to be Ju Ae.

She has since appeared at several high-profile events, including military parades in Pyongyang where she observed displays of ICBMs with Kim Jong Un. Her presence at such events has been seen by analysts as deliberate signalling.

Her first international trip came in September last year, when she accompanied Kim to Beijing for a military parade hosted by Xi Jinping. The event also featured Vladimir Putin, underscoring a growing alignment among the three countries. Ju Ae did not appear publicly during the parade itself.

A country sealed off from scrutiny

North Korea remains one of the world’s most closed and repressive states. The Covid-19 pandemic has further deepened its isolation, with borders sealed and most foreign diplomatic missions and international organisations leaving the country.

This lack of access makes succession analysis difficult. Some experts argue that Ju Ae’s prominence may be intended to shape international perception rather than signal a genuine transfer of power. Others believe secrecy itself is a strategy, allowing multiple potential heirs to remain out of sight.

A violent precedent for succession

History suggests that leadership transitions in North Korea can be brutal. When Kim Jong Un took power in 2011, his uncle Jang Song-thaek was arrested on treason charges and executed. In 2017, Kim’s half-brother Kim Jong-nam was assassinated with VX nerve agent at Kuala Lumpur airport.

If Kim Jong Un formally anoints his daughter as successor, analysts warn that past patterns suggest internal purges and power struggles could follow. For now, intelligence agencies across the region are watching closely, aware that even small symbolic shifts in Pyongyang can signal major change ahead.