Kim Jong Un’s 13-year-old daughter now holds the second-most important position in North Korea’s government. South Korea’s National Intelligence Service confirmed Kim Ju-ae moved from “successor training” to “successor designation stage.”
She occupies the most prominent protocol positions at state events and provides policy input. Her September 2025 trip to Beijing marked her first known overseas visit, meeting Chinese leadership directly.
Kim Jong Un, 42, took power following his father’s death in 2011. His father assumed control after his own father died in 1994. The Kim family has ruled North Korea since 1948.
The announcement comes ahead of North Korea’s annual Workers’ Party conference later this month. Kim is expected to outline major policy goals for the next five years.
North Korea conducted a ballistic missile test February 6, launching approximately 500 kilometers from its eastern coast. The test drew condemnation from South Korea, Japan, and the United States.
The NIS told Seoul lawmakers it will monitor whether Kim Ju-ae appears alongside her father at the conference.
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