The National Intelligence Service (NIS) has officially refuted claims that Kim Jong Un’s firstborn child is either a son with disabilities or secretly studying abroad. Although intelligence authorities have not yet confirmed Kim Ju-ae as North Korea’s successor, this assessment is expected to bolster speculation that she is a strong contender for succession in the near future.
During a closed-door session of the National Assembly’s Intelligence Committee, the NIS reported that North Korea has been grooming Kim’s daughter, Kim Ju-ae, as a potential successor by providing her with international exposure, such as by accompanying her father to China’s Victory Day celebrations. This information was disclosed by Park Sun-won of the Democratic Party and Lee Seong-gwon of the People Power Party, who serve as the committee’s secretaries.
NIS stated that they view Kim Ju-ae’s participation in the China visit as part of the process of recognizing her as a successor and developing a narrative around her. They added that their analysis suggests that her trip to China was fundamentally aimed at completing a revolutionary narrative with succession in mind.
According to Lee, when committee members inquired about Kim’s other children, the NIS responded that while various rumors have circulated regarding another child with disabilities or studying abroad, they do not consider these claims credible. The agency emphasized that, particularly in the case of studying abroad, it would be difficult to conceal such a situation, rendering the scenario unlikely.
This suggests that although the NIS acknowledges the existence of another child (a son) besides Kim Ju-ae, they are not yet prepared to determine whether this child is a potential successor.
Park Ji-won, a Democratic Party member and former NIS director during the Moon Jae-in administration, recently claimed that Kim has a son who is presumed to be secretly studying abroad, which is why his identity remains undisclosed.
In 2023, the NIS informed the National Assembly that Kim’s firstborn child was believed to be a son. This led some experts to speculate that Kim Ju-ae’s public appearances might be a smokescreen to conceal the existence of an elder son. Reports indicate that the NIS did not clarify whether it still maintains this assessment from two years ago.
The NIS’s current evaluation is likely to strengthen the notion that Kim Ju-ae has been designated as North Korea’s successor. She has been referred to with extreme honorifics in North Korean media, such as the esteemed one, while Kim’s son or other children have not made any public appearances.
However, arguments persist that Kim Ju-ae may not be the successor, given that Kim is still relatively young at 42, and Kim Ju-ae is estimated to be only 12 or 13 years old. Additionally, she has not received any official title from the Workers’ Party.