South Korea's National Intelligence Service (NIS) on Monday said it now considers the daughter of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to be his political successor.
Kim's heir apparent, thought to be named Kim Ju Ae, has accompanied her father on several official occasions in appearances thought to be cementing her position.
What has South Korea said about Kim's possible heir?
"This is not a judgment based on mere circumstantial evidence, but on intelligence information," said NIS Director Lee Jong Seok, as reported by South Korea's official Yonhap news agency. Lee reportedly made the remarks during a parliamentary briefing.
The assessment marks a sharper stance from the agency, which has been tracking succession signals in Pyongyang.
In early 2024, the NIS said it viewed a daughter of leader Kim Jong Un as a likely heir, its first official indication she may be groomed for leadership. By February this year, it said she appeared close to being formally designated as successor.
Meanwhile, the agency downplayed the political power of Kim's sister Kim Yo Jong, despite speculation about her influence in North Korea.
Who is Kim Jong Un's daughter?
Kim Jong Un's daughter — dubbed by state media as Kim's "most beloved" or "respected" child, — was first seen in state media photos in 2022. Since then, she has accompanied her father on several official occasions, including multiple missile tests and a state visit to China.
Officially, however, little is known about her. Neither her age nor her name has been officially confirmed by North Korean state media. According to former professional basketball player Dennis Rodman, who met Kim personally in North Korea in 2013, her age is estimated to be around 13 or 14.
The younger Kim has recently appeared more frequently during visits to the army. In mid-March, North Korea's state news agency KCNA published photos showing the young girl apparently driving a tank alongside her father at a military training base.
According to the NIS, this is intended to dispel doubts about a female leader.
The assessment of Kim's political succession is a temporary one only. Some experts assume that Kim Jong Un may have other children besides his daughter, including a son who could be presented to the public at a later date.
Since its founding in 1948, North Korea has been ruled by male members of the Kim family. Kim Jong Un took power after the death of his father Kim Jong Il in 2011, who had himself succeeded state founder Kim Il Sung following his death in 1994.
