South Korea's intelligence agency suggests that Kim Jong-un's daughter may soon be designated as the future leader of North Korea, marking a potential transition of power to the next generation.
According to South Korea's National Intelligence Service (NIS), Kim Jong-un may soon designate his teenage daughter, Kim Ju-ae, as his successor, further entrenching the Kim family dynasty into its fourth generation. This assertion was made during a closed briefing to South Korean lawmakers, stressing that the NIS is closely observing any signs of Kim Ju-ae's public involvement, especially as North Korea prepares for a significant political conference later this month.
The upcoming conference is anticipated to showcase Kim Jong-un's key policy directives for the next five years, aiming to reinforce his authoritarian rule. Observers note that this move to include his daughter in political affairs might be a strategic effort by Kim to shore up the regime’s legitimacy and stability as he addresses pressing domestic and international challenges. Kim Ju-ae's previous public appearances, most notably at a missile test in late 2022, have raised speculation about her imminent role.
Should Kim Ju-ae be positioned as a future leader, it would represent a historical shift in North Korea's dynastic power structure. Analysts suggest that this could have profound implications not only for the governance of North Korea but also for regional dynamics, as the young leader’s potential ascendancy might provoke uncertainty and recalibrations in responses from South Korea, the United States, and international actors regarding North Korea's aggressive military posture.
