On February 12, 2026, South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS) told lawmakers that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is close to designating his teenage daughter as the country’s next leader. This move would extend the Kim family’s rule into a fourth generation.
The daughter, widely believed to be Kim Ju-ae and around 13 years old, has appeared more frequently in public alongside her father in recent months. South Korean officials now describe her status as having moved from “successor training” to the “successor-designate stage” or “internally appointed successor.”
Key indicators cited by the NIS include:
- Her growing prominence in state media.
- Participation in high-profile events, such as a New Year’s Day visit with her parents to the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun (the mausoleum of her grandfather and great-grandfather).
- Possible early involvement in policy discussions, with some lawmakers describing her as a de facto second-highest figure.
The agency is closely watching whether she will appear with Kim Jong-un at the upcoming Workers’ Party congress in front of thousands of delegates — a moment that could serve as a formal introduction of the heir.
Background on Kim Ju-ae
Kim Ju-ae first appeared publicly in late 2022, initially at missile tests and military events. Her visibility has steadily increased, fueling long-running speculation that she is being groomed to succeed her 42-year-old father. North Korea remains extremely secretive about its leadership plans, so these assessments rely on intelligence analysis of public appearances and internal signals.
What This Means
If confirmed, naming a daughter as successor would be historic for North Korea’s male-dominated dynasty. It would also signal Kim Jong-un’s efforts to secure a smooth power transition while he is still relatively young and in control.
This story, first highlighted in a Guardian video report, has been corroborated across major outlets including Reuters, BBC, and Al Jazeera, all drawing from the same NIS briefing to South Korean lawmakers.