South Korean Intelligence: Kim Ju-ae is the Strongest Candidate for North Korean Leadership

In its statement, the NIS reiterated its previous assessment that Kim's daughter, Kim Ju-ae, born in 2013, was the closest person to taking over the leadership of North Korea after her father.

In the statement, the organization noted that it was trying to determine whether Kim Jong-un had a son, but argued that it was trying to confirm whether Kim's daughter had an older brother, but "under the current conditions, even if such a person exists, he cannot be the successor of his father."

In its statement, NIS claimed that Kim Jong-un "has another younger child whose gender has not yet been confirmed."

South Korean national media also express the opinion that 42-year-old Kim Jong-un is still too young to choose his successor, a move that could weaken his absolute authority.

Kim Ju-ae, the daughter of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, has attracted attention for accompanying her father to many events, including military parades and missile tests, since her first appearance on state media in 2022.

In its assessment in January 2024, NIS described Ju-ae, who was thought to be born in 2013, as North Korea's "most likely successor".