File photo: North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (center left) and his daughter (Photo source: Associated Press)

South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS) has assessed that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s teenage daughter is actually being positioned as his successor, lawmakers said on Thursday, signaling a possible fourth generation of the Kim family dynasty.The review comes ahead of a key Workers’ Party congress in North Korea later this month, where Kim is expected to outline his main policy goals for the next five years and further solidify his grip on power.Lawmaker Lee Seong-kweun said the National Intelligence Service told lawmakers in a closed parliamentary briefing that Kim Jong Un’s daughter – widely believed to be named Kim Joo-ae and about 13 years old – had reached what the agency called “the successor designation stage.” “In the past, (the National Intelligence Service) described Kim Joo-ae as undergoing ‘successor training.’ Today it is worth noting that they used the term ‘successor designation stage,’ which is a fairly significant shift,” Lee said as quoted by the Associated Press.

Public role becomes increasingly prominent

Kim Joo-ae made her first public appearance during a long-range missile test in November 2022 and has since accompanied her father to a series of high-profile events, including weapons launches, military parades, factory tours and a summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing last September.Her popularity has fueled speculation about her future role. In January, she traveled with her parents to pay their respects at the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun, the mausoleum that houses the embalmed bodies of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il. North Korea’s state media called her a “beloved child” and “great guide,” a term that traditionally refers to the supreme leader and his successors, AFP reported.The National Intelligence Service told lawmakers that Kim Joo-ae’s increased presence at key military events, her participation in Kumsusan visits and signs that Kim Jong-un had begun seeking her advice on certain policy issues were factors behind the reassessment.

Party congress may mark formalization

A Workers’ Party congress expected in late February could provide a stage for Kim to formalize his succession plan. Some analysts have suggested that she may be appointed first secretary of the Central Committee and first secretary of the party. 2 position, despite party rules requiring party members to be over 18 years old.The National Intelligence Service said it will pay close attention to whether Kim Joo-ae attends the conference and the degree of courtesy given to her.Chung Sang-chang of South Korea’s Sejong Institute said her visit to Kumsusan Palace, an important symbol of the Kim family’s rule, should be seen as a deliberate attempt to project her image as an heir to the legacy of her grandfather and father.Others warned that any formal move would likely be subtle. The Associated Press quoted Ko Yoo-hwan, former director of South Korea’s Institute for National Unification, as saying those signals could come in the form of intra-party messages praising North Korea for “successfully inheriting the revolution.”He said, “If you see comments like this, there is reason to think that Joo Ae has been confirmed as the heir.”

Limited information, dynasty legacy

Despite her growing public profile, North Korean state media has never officially confirmed her name, referring to her only as Kim Jong Un’s “respected” or “most beloved” child.It is believed her name is Kim Joo-ae, after former NBA star Dennis Rodman said he was holding Kim Joo-ae’s young daughter during a 2013 visit to Pyongyang.South Korea’s intelligence service has previously told lawmakers that Kim Jong Un and his wife Ri Sol Ju may have an eldest son and a third child of unknown gender.Since its founding in 1948, North Korea has been ruled exclusively by male members of the Kim family – first Kim Il-sung, then Kim Jong-il and now Kim Jong-un. Kim Jong Un himself was officially named heir apparent in 2010, when he was 26, two years after his father suffered a stroke, and suddenly took power after Kim Jong Il’s death in 2011.Analysts believe Kim Jong Un’s decision to introduce his daughter early may reflect his own experience of rising quickly to leadership with limited preparation.If confirmed, her appointment would mark a historic shift in the insular country’s predominantly male leadership structure, although observers say much will depend on her standing at the upcoming party congress.