South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS) has assessed that the presence of North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un’s daughter, Kim Ju-ae, at the Beijing military parade commemorating the end of World War II in Far Eastern Asia has effectively made her status as his successor almost official.
Believed to have been born in 2012 or 2013, Kim Ju-ae is the only publicly acknowledged child of Kim Jong-un and Ri Sol-ju. Her repeated appearances at high-profile state events, including military parades, have fuelled speculation about her future leadership role.
The NIS briefing also revealed that Kim Jong-un is not facing any major health problems at present. His heart rate and blood pressure were reported to be stable, countering long-standing speculation about his medical condition.
Kim Ju-ae’s visibility marks a rare move in North Korea’s secretive power structure, where succession planning is usually kept tightly under wraps until the very last moment.
