On Thursday, the National Intelligence Service (NIS) informed the National Assembly that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is in the process of designating his daughter, Ju Ae, as his successor. The agency also noted that North Korea might be open to dialogue with the United States if certain conditions are met.
Lee Seong Kwon, a member of the National Assembly and the ruling People Power Party’s secretary for the Intelligence Committee, briefed reporters after a closed-door meeting. He stated that the NIS had observed Ju Ae maintaining a high profile at events such as the recent Air Force Day ceremony and a visit to the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun, and that Ju Ae had also offered input on certain policies.
According to Lee, the NIS believes that Ju Ae has entered the stage of being designated as the successor, considering these factors. The agency plans to closely monitor Ju Ae’s attendance, protocol level, use of symbolic language and real names, and any succession hints in party regulations during the upcoming party congress and related events.
Lee added that Ju Ae’s presence at military-related events and her visit to the Kumsusan Palace, a symbol of hereditary succession, have significantly raised her domestic profile.
Park Seon Won, the Democratic Party’s secretary, noted that Kim Jong Un has been gradually revealing the succession structure, with Ju Ae’s status as second in the protocol hierarchy becoming more prominent since late last year.
Park further explained that Ju Ae’s role has been actively strengthened, as she now directly engages with the public to address concerns and participates in policy implementation. He emphasized that the NIS’s assessment indicates she has entered the designated stage of succession.
Regarding U.S.-North Korea relations, the NIS reported no significant developments since the canceled meeting between former President Trump and Kim Jong Un during the Gyeongju APEC summit. However, they suggested that North Korea might engage in dialogue with the U.S. if future conditions are favorable.
The NIS noted that while North Korea expresses dissatisfaction with U.S. strategic asset deployments near the Korean Peninsula, they haven’t completely rejected dialogue. North Korea has refrained from criticizing former President Trump and has not conducted intercontinental ballistic missile tests, leaving room for potential engagement. The agency believes that U.S.-North Korea contact remains possible as long as there are no overtly negative messages.
The NIS also reported that North Korea has recently accelerated its drone development and production efforts by establishing a specialized department. Park mentioned that North Korea’s short-range ballistic missiles have shown significant improvements in precision compared to the early stages of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
On North Korea-China relations, the NIS stated that despite Kim Jong Un’s appearance with Chinese President Xi Jinping at Tiananmen Square last September, the relationship has not gained significant momentum. China’s focus on managing U.S. relations since the Gyeongju APEC summit has led to the maintenance of sanctions against North Korea, including crackdowns on smuggling. No additional economic support beyond fertilizer aid has been confirmed.
The NIS reported that while North Korea is dissatisfied with China’s attitude, they continue efforts to restore relations by attending Chinese events at overseas diplomatic missions.
Domestic issues were also addressed. Park claimed that Kim Jin Sung, sentenced to 15 years in prison for attempting to murder Lee Jae Myung, then-leader of the Democratic Party, appears to have been influenced by far-right YouTubers.
Park stated that the NIS believes Kim Jin Sung was clearly influenced by Ko Seong Kuk, a far-right YouTuber. He confirmed communication between Ko and Kim, and noted that Kim had visited Ko Seong Kuk’s YouTube channel.
Park added that the NIS has gathered photographic evidence and that investigative authorities will examine the connection with Ko. The NIS affirmed its commitment to fulfilling its role in the matter and is currently collecting evidence and tracking the situation.
