Kim Jong Un reportedly names daughter as successor

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has reportedly begun positioning his teenage daughter as his successor, signaling a potential fourth generation of dynastic rule in North Korea.

Lawmakers in South Korea say their country’s intelligence services now believe Kim’s daughter, widely identified as Kim Ju Ae, has moved beyond informal grooming and is entering what officials describe as a designated successor phase.

The assessment, shared during a closed briefing by National Intelligence Service, follows her growing visibility at high-profile state events, including military inspections and weapons demonstrations, where she has increasingly appeared alongside her father.

Until recently, Kim Ju Ae was rarely seen in public. Her sudden and consistent presence at key moments of national importance has fueled speculation that Pyongyang is preparing the ground for an eventual transfer of power.

North Korean state media has not officially confirmed her status or role. However, intelligence officials believe the regime is carefully introducing her to the public to normalize her future leadership and reassure elites of a clear succession plan.

If formalized, Kim Ju Ae would become the first woman positioned to lead North Korea, extending the ruling dynasty into a fourth generation amid heightened regional tensions and ongoing weapons development.