Seoul’s Unification Ministry hinted on Monday at the possibility of Kim Jong Un’s daughter being considered for succession, amid increasing speculation about North Korea’s leadership plans.
North Korean state media recently referred to Kim’s teenage daughter as a “great person of guidance,” a term typically reserved for top leaders and their potential successors, sparking renewed speculation about her future role in the regime.
Analysts noted that this is the first time Kim’s daughter, known as Ju Ae according to South Korean intelligence, has been described in such terms by North Korea.
The use of the term “great person of guidance” has intensified speculation that the teenager, often seen alongside her father at significant public events, could be designated as the next leader of North Korea, continuing the tradition of hereditary succession.
Koo Byoung-sam, a spokesperson for Seoul’s Unification Ministry, stated at a briefing on Monday, “We are not discounting the possibility of Ju Ae’s succession,” while emphasizing that Seoul is closely monitoring developments and keeping all options open.
However, he cautioned that if Ju Ae were to assume leadership, the North Korean people would likely face significant challenges as a result.
Ju Ae first gained public attention in 2022 when she accompanied her father to the launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile. Since then, North Korean state media has portrayed her in various roles, including as the “morning star of Korea” and a “beloved child.”
She has frequently appeared alongside her father at official events, including military exercises, visits to weapons facilities, and tours of agricultural sites.
A recent image released by Pyongyang showed Ju Ae observing paratroop drills through binoculars while standing alongside her father and senior military officials.
Before her public introduction in 2022, the only confirmation of Ju Ae’s existence came from former NBA star Dennis Rodman, who claimed to have met Kim’s baby daughter during a visit to North Korea in 2013.
Initial reports from Seoul suggested that Kim and his wife Ri had a son in 2010, with Ju Ae being their second child. However, last year, Seoul’s unification minister stated that they were unable to confirm the existence of Kim’s son.
Kim Jong Un took over the leadership of North Korea following his father’s death in 2011 and has overseen multiple nuclear tests during his tenure, including the latest one conducted in 2017.
