Spy agency says Kim Jong Un's daughter is close to be North Korea's future leader

South Korea's National Intelligence Service believes Kim Ju Ae is close to being designated as the country's future leader, citing her increasing presence at high-profile events, including weapons tests and meetings with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, as part of her "successor training".
Kim Ju Ae, who first appeared in public at a long-range missile test in November 2022, has accompanied her father to numerous events, including a visit to the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun, a sacred family mausoleum, sparking speculation about her potential succession, with experts noting that her growing visibility in state media suggests she may be groomed to take over.
The upcoming Workers' Party Congress in late February may provide a stage for Kim Jong Un to formalize his succession plans, with analysts suggesting that Kim Ju Ae could be given a key party role, such as first secretary, although this may not be immediately disclosed to the outside world, according to Cheong Seong-Chang, a senior analyst at South Korea's Sejong Institute.