SEOUL, South Korea (AP) 鈥� South Korea鈥檚 spy agency says it鈥檚 now fair to view the of North Korean leader as his heir, its strongest assessment yet on the rising political status of the girl who it believes could extend her family鈥檚 rule into a fourth generation.
The girl, dubbed by state media as Kim鈥檚 鈥渕ost beloved鈥� or 鈥渞espected鈥� child, has accompanied her father to numerous high-profile events since late 2022, sparking outside speculation that she鈥檚 being groomed as the North鈥檚 future leader.
In a closed-door briefing at the National Assembly Monday, South Korea鈥檚 National Intelligence Service director Lee Jong-seok said the girl could be considered Kim鈥檚 successor, in response to questions by lawmakers about her political standing, according to Lee Seong Kweun, one of the lawmakers who attended the meeting.
Asked about possible protests by Kim鈥檚 sister who has been long regarded as the North鈥檚 No. 2 figure, the NIS director responded that she has no substantial powers, lawmaker Lee told a briefing. He cited the NIS as citing unspecified 鈥渞eliable intelligence.鈥�
It was a stronger assessment by the NIS on the girl鈥檚 status. In early 2024, it described the girl as her father鈥檚 , its first official assessment on her possible grooming as the North鈥檚 next leader. In February this year, the agency said it believed she was as the country鈥檚 future leader.
Some observers disagree with the NIS鈥� assessment, saying North Korea鈥檚 extremely male-centered society won鈥檛 likely embrace a woman leader. They also said Kim, 42, is too young to name his successor, a development that could weaken his grip on power.
The girl is reportedly named Kim Ju Ae and aged about 13, but North Korea鈥檚 state media hasn鈥檛 released such personal details. Her reported name is based on an account by former NBA star Dennis Rodman, who recalled holding Kim Jong Un鈥檚 baby daughter during a in 2013.
Established in 1948, North Korea has been successively ruled by male members of the Kim family. Kim Jong Un inherited power upon his father in late 2011. Kim Jong Il took over power after his father and state founder Kim Il Sung died in 1994.
Some of the girl鈥檚 recent public appearances included her during army training supervised by her father and the pair during a visit to a light munitions factory.
During Monday鈥檚 briefing, the NIS said North Korean authorities appeared to have organized such events to build up her military credentials and 鈥渞educe skepticism about a woman successor,鈥� lawmaker Lee said.
Park Sunwon, another lawmaker who attended the briefing, made similar comments on the NIS鈥� assessment on the girl鈥檚 recent military appearances.
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