South Korea's spy agency has told lawmakers that Kim Ju Ae, the teenage daughter of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, is close to being designated as the country's future leader. The National Intelligence Service assessment comes as North Korea prepares for its biggest political conference later this month, where Kim is expected to outline major policy goals for the next five years.

Kim Ju Ae, believed to be around 13 years old, has made increasingly prominent public appearances since her debut at a missile test in November 2022. She has accompanied her father to military parades, weapons tests, and factory openings, including his first summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in six years. Her recent visit to the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun alongside her parents on New Year's Day has intensified speculation about her political future.

The NIS has shifted its assessment from describing Kim Ju Ae as being in 'successor training' to the 'successor-designate stage' - a significant change in terminology. The agency cited her growing presence at high-profile military events and signs that Kim Jong Un is beginning to seek her input on certain policy matters. While North Korean state media have never published her name, only referring to her as the leader's 'respected' or 'most beloved' child, her visibility in propaganda has prompted a reassessment of traditional succession norms in the male-dominated regime.