South Korea: Kim Jong Un Designates Daughter as Successor

South Korean intelligence officials have assessed that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has designated his daughter, Kim Ju Ae, as his successor, marking a significant step in grooming the teenager for leadership in the isolated nation's ruling family dynasty.

The evaluation came during a closed-door briefing by South Korea's National Intelligence Service to lawmakers on Thursday, where officials described Ju Ae as having entered the "stage of being internally appointed successor." Previously, the agency viewed her as simply being prepared for a potential leadership role. Lawmakers, including Lee Seongkweun and Park Seonwon, relayed the details to reporters afterward. "She has now been clearly designated as a successor," Lee said, citing her prominent public appearances and indications that she is providing input on policy matters. The agency believes her role at official events positions her as the de facto second-highest leader.

Ju Ae, believed to be between 12 and 14 years old, first appeared publicly in November 2022 alongside her father at the test launch of a Hwasong-17 intercontinental ballistic missile. Since then, she has featured prominently in state media at major...