Seoul Spy Agency Says It's Fair To View Teen Daughter Of North Korean Leader Kim As His Heir

SEOUL — South Korea’s spy agency says it’s now adjacent to position nan teenage girl of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un arsenic his heir, its strongest appraisal yet connected nan rising governmental position of nan woman who it believes could widen her family’s norm into a 4th generation.

The girl, dubbed by authorities media arsenic Kim’s “most beloved” aliases “respected” child, has accompanied her begetter to galore high-profile events since precocious 2022, sparking extracurricular speculation that she’s being groomed arsenic nan North’s early leader.

In a closed-door briefing astatine nan National Assembly connected Monday, South Korea’s National Intelligence Service head Lee Jong-seok said nan woman could beryllium considered Kim’s successor, successful consequence to questions by lawmakers astir her governmental standing, according to Lee Seong Kweun, 1 of nan lawmakers who attended nan meeting.

Asked astir imaginable protests by Kim’s sister Kim Yo Jong, who has been agelong regarded arsenic nan North’s No. 2 figure, nan intelligence head responded that she has nary important powers, lawmaker Lee told a briefing. He cited nan intelligence work arsenic citing unspecified “reliable intelligence.”

It was a stronger appraisal by nan agency connected nan girl’s status. In early 2024, it described nan woman arsenic her father’s apt heir, its first charismatic appraisal connected her imaginable grooming arsenic nan North’s adjacent leader. In February this year, nan agency said it believed she was adjacent to being designated arsenic nan country’s early leader.

Some observers disagree pinch nan agency’s assessment, saying North Korea’s highly male-centered nine astir apt wouldn’t clasp a female leader. They besides said Kim, 42, is excessively young to sanction his successor, a improvement that could weaken his grip connected power.

The woman is reportedly named Kim Ju Ae and aged astir 13, but North Korea’s authorities media haven’t released specified individual details. Her reported sanction is based connected an relationship by erstwhile NBA prima Dennis Rodman, who recalled holding Kim Jong Un’s babe girl during a travel to Pyongyang successful 2013.

Established successful 1948, North Korea has been successively ruled by antheral members of nan Kim family. Kim Jong Un inherited powerfulness upon his begetter Kim Jong Il’s decease successful precocious 2011. Kim Jong Il took complete powerfulness aft his begetter and authorities laminitis Kim Il Sung died successful 1994.

Some of nan girl’s caller nationalist appearances included her driving a vessel during service training supervised by her begetter and nan brace firing pistols during a sojourn to a ray munitions factory.

During Monday’s briefing, nan intelligence work said North Korean authorities appeared to person organized specified events to build up her subject credentials and “reduce skepticism astir a female successor,” lawmaker Lee said.

Park Sunwon, different lawmaker who attended nan briefing, made akin comments connected nan agency’s appraisal of nan girl’s caller subject appearances.

Kim writes for nan Associated Press.