SEOUL — South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS) has informed lawmakers that Kim Jong-un’s teenage daughter, widely believed to be named Kim Ju-ae, is close to being officially designated as North Korea’s next leader, signaling a possible extension of the ruling Kim family dynasty into a fourth generation. 

In a closed-door briefing to lawmakers on Feb. 12, 2026, the NIS said Kim’s daughter — believed to be around 13 years old — has moved beyond a vague “successor training” phase to a “successor-designate stage,” reflecting her increasingly prominent public role alongside her father. The intelligence officials are closely watching whether she appears with him at North Korea’s biggest political event of the year, the Workers’ Party Congress, later this month. 

North Korean state media has never published her name, instead referring to her as the leader’s “respected” or “most beloved” daughter. South Korean intelligence assessments, historians and defectors long inferred her identity from early appearances in state imagery and from accounts such as former NBA player Dennis Rodman’s recollections of holding Kim’s young child in 2013. However, the NIS now believes her public participation in strategic events and family rituals underscores an active grooming for leadership. 

A Dynastic Shift in Pyongyang?

The possible elevation of Ju-ae as heir would further entrench North Korea’s dynastic governance system, which began with founder Kim Il-sung, passed to his son Kim Jong-il, and then to his grandson Kim Jong-un. Analysts say her rising profile — from accompanying her father at military parades, weapons tests and diplomatic trips to Beijing, to attending symbolic events such as a family visit to the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun — suggests a deliberate messaging strategy aimed at normalizing her prominence. 

However, observers note that her young age, the secrecy that surrounds her life, and North Korea’s traditionally male-dominated leadership culture complicate expectations of her immediate succession. Some analysts note that powerful figures such as Kim Yo-jong, Kim Jong-un’s sister, could occupy influential roles if Ju-ae’s youth proves a barrier to authority. 

Reactions and Implications

International reaction has been one of cautious analysis rather than celebration. Regional powers such as South Korea, Japan and China are closely monitoring developments, as changes in North Korean leadership dynamics could affect nuclear diplomacy, regional security and Pyongyang’s foreign policy posture. Analysts say that whether Ju-ae’s position remains symbolic or evolves into real authority will depend heavily on internal regime dynamics and how Kim Jong-un navigates elite competition within the Workers’ Party. 

Despite growing public speculation internationally, the North Korean government has not officially confirmed the daughter’s name, status, or role, and state media continues to portray the nation’s leader as firmly in control. Whether a formal announcement will emerge during the upcoming Party Congress remains unconfirmed, but intelligence officials see it as the most likely stage for a symbolic succession signal. 

Sources: Times India, News24, AP News