North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has selected his daughter as his heir, South Korea’s spy agency has told lawmakers. Find out more about who she is:

🚨 Kim Jong Un’s Daughter Kim Ju Ae Reportedly Chosen as North Korea’s Future Leader — Here’s What We Know About Her

North Korea’s leader, Kim Jong Un, has reportedly taken a major step toward choosing his successor, with South Korea’s National Intelligence Service identifying his daughter, Kim Ju Ae, as the likely future leader of the secretive country. The assessment, reported in February 2026, marked a significant development in the question of who could eventually inherit power in Pyongyang. However, the succession has not been officially confirmed by North Korea.

Kim Ju Ae is believed to be around 13 years old, although her exact age and other personal details remain unconfirmed by the North Korean government. Very little is publicly known about her childhood, education, or private life because the Kim family keeps its personal affairs tightly guarded. Much of the information available about her comes from South Korean intelligence assessments and North Korean state media appearances.

Ju Ae first attracted international attention in November 2022, when she appeared alongside her father during an inspection connected to an intercontinental ballistic missile launch. Her appearance was unusual because North Korean leaders have traditionally kept their families away from extensive public exposure. Since then, she has increasingly accompanied Kim Jong Un to important military and political events, prompting speculation about her future role.

Her growing visibility has become particularly significant because North Korea has been ruled by male members of the Kim family for three generations. Her grandfather, Kim Jong Il, preceded her father, Kim Jong Un, who assumed power after his father’s death in 2011. If Ju Ae eventually succeeds her father, she could become the first woman to lead North Korea and extend the family dynasty into a fourth generation.

Another important question is whether Kim Jong Un has other children. South Korean intelligence has reportedly assessed that he may have an older son, although that child has not been publicly acknowledged or presented in North Korean state media. Ju Ae’s prominence has therefore attracted further attention, particularly because analysts are still trying to understand why she appears to be receiving such a visible role in the country’s political and military affairs.

For now, Kim Ju Ae remains one of the most closely watched young figures in international politics. South Korean intelligence assessments suggest she is being positioned as her father’s potential successor, but the timing and circumstances of any future transfer of power remain uncertain. Her continued appearances beside Kim Jong Un may offer further clues about North Korea’s political future, while the world waits to see whether the country’s leadership will eventually confirm her position as heir.