The National Intelligence Service (NIS) reported on Monday that Kim Jong Un’s daughter, Ju-ae, has been making recent appearances primarily in the defense sector. This strategy is seen as an attempt to mitigate concerns about a female successor and accelerate the narrative of succession.
Following a closed-door session of the National Assembly’s Intelligence Committee, lawmakers Park Sun-won of the Democratic Party and Lee Seong-gwon of the People Power Party briefed reporters on the NIS’s assessment of North Korean developments.
Rep. Park highlighted that the NIS believes that the first public display of Ju-ae’s marksmanship and her tank-driving demonstration, which echoes Kim’s own successor period, are calculated moves to underscore her military prowess.
The NIS further analyzed that Pyongyang is working to downplay the legacy of previous leaders while elevating Kim’s status. Simultaneously, the regime appears to be pursuing state normalization through systematic restructuring.
Rep. Park noted that during Kim’s reappointment as Chairman of the State Affairs Commission, it observed efforts to rebrand state institutions, such as renaming the Mansudae Assembly Hall to the Pyongyang Assembly Hall. There’s also been a noticeable reduction in references to the ideologies of Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong Il, clearly aimed at bolstering Kim’s standing.
He added that in a significant shift, Kim is now being referred to as the head of state, a term not previously used.
Park continued that notably, they’ve amended the constitution, removing the word socialist from its title after 54 years. This change appears designed to align North Korea more closely with international norms.
The lawmaker explained that the regime has restructured its security apparatus, transforming the Ministry of State Security into a National Intelligence Service, incorporating social safety functions into the Cabinet, and signaling the introduction of a police system. The NIS interprets these moves as steps toward normalizing North Korea’s governance structure.
Regarding personnel changes, Park reported that Kim Yo-jong, Kim’s sister, has been reinstated to the Party’s Politburo and promoted to head of the Party’s General Affairs Department. The NIS expects her to continue serving as Kim’s close confidante, overseeing directive implementation and acting as a key spokesperson.
On North Korea’s U.S. policy, Park stated that Pyongyang is framing its stance as a choice between peace and confrontation, while conditionally proposing normalization of relations. This approach shifts the responsibility for dialogue initiation to Washington. The regime is carefully calibrating its messaging, notably refraining from direct criticism of former President Donald Trump.