North Korea Power Play: Is Kim Jong Un Grooming Kim Ju Ae as Heir as Kim Yo Jong Looms?

Speculation is rife that North Korea’s Kim Jong Un is preparing his  daughter, Kim Ju Ae, as successor. Her frequent appearances at key state and military events have fueled talk, with South Korean intelligence suggesting she may be designated heir.

Speculation is intensifying over the future leadership of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) as evidence mounts that Kim Jong Un may be positioning his teenage daughter, Kim Ju Ae, as his successor.

Observers from South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS) and international analysts are closely monitoring her rise in visibility and protocol status, suggesting a potential dynastic transition that would extend the Kim family’s rule into a fourth generation.

Kim Ju Ae’s rise to prominence has been gradual but increasingly visible. She first emerged publicly in November 2022 at a major missile test alongside her father. Since then, state media footage and photographs have shown her attending high-profile events, including military parades, weapons inspections and diplomatic visits, such as accompanying Kim Jong Un on a trip to Beijing last year.

These appearances, rare for a leader’s child in the typically secretive North Korean regime, have fuelled widespread speculation about her future role within the power hierarchy.

Earlier this month, lawmakers in Seoul attending a closed-door briefing by the NIS reported that the agency believes Kim Ju Ae has moved beyond “succession training” and is now in the stage of successor designation — a significant shift given her young age, estimated at around 13 years old. Officials noted that her enhanced role appears to include not just ceremonial presence but also occasional policy input during state visits and official engagements.

North Korea’s secrecy has traditionally shielded details about its ruling family, and official confirmation of Kim Ju Ae’s status has not come from Pyongyang. However, analysts observe that her prominent placement in official imagery — sometimes ahead of key political figures — signals a possible strategic move to familiarise domestic and foreign audiences with her presence and suitability for future leadership.

As attention turns to the upcoming Ninth Party Congress of the Workers’ Party of Korea, scheduled later this month, observers expect further clues about Kim Ju Ae’s succession prospects.

Historically, North Korean leadership transitions have been marked by highly orchestrated rituals that reinforce continuity and ideological legitimacy. While Kim Jong Un retains formal authority and appears in good health, the party congress could provide a stage for symbolic endorsements or elevated protocol positioning for his daughter.

Despite these signs, skepticism remains among some experts. Unlike earlier successors, such as Kim Jong Il and Kim Jong Un — both designated well into adulthood with formal party roles — Kim Ju Ae has no official political appointment.

Critics argue that while public appearances may be intended to signal continuity, they do not necessarily guarantee substantive power transition. It is also unclear whether her early public exposure reflects authentic plans for succession or serves broader propaganda objectives aimed at bolstering the dynasty’s image as a “socialist great family.”

Adding complexity to the succession narrative is Kim Yo Jong, Kim Jong Un’s sister and one of North Korea’s most influential officials. At 38, she holds a senior position within the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party and is widely seen as a formidable power broker with strong ties to the political and military establishment. According to former South Korean intelligence officials, if Kim Ju Ae’s ascent is formalised, it could trigger a power struggle between the teenage heir and her ambitious aunt — a scenario reminiscent of the factional tensions within the dynasty’s past leadership battles.

Analysts point to Kim Yo Jong’s established influence as a potential counterweight to her niece’s candidacy. With a robust support base and decades of political networking, she could conceivably contest the succession if opportunities arise, particularly if Ju Ae’s youth and inexperience are seen as vulnerabilities.

The spectre of internal conflict is underscored by North Korea’s history of ruthless purges and consolidation of power when leadership disputes have emerged.

The broader geopolitical implications of a leadership transition in Pyongyang are significant. North Korea’s strategic posture — including its nuclear program, relations with China and Russia, and posture toward South Korea and the United States — could be affected by changes at the top. A stable succession would likely emphasise continuity of the regime’s core policies, while any internal strife could introduce uncertainty into regional security dynamics.

For now, Kim Jong Un continues to exercise supreme authority, but the unusual public elevation of Kim Ju Ae — combined with lingering questions about succession traditions in the highly patriarchal, opaque system — has drawn intense international scrutiny. Whether her rising profile represents a carefully calibrated grooming process, a bid for political normalisation of hereditary succession, or a pre-emptive move to secure loyalty from key elites remains the subject of debate among analysts and intelligence agencies.

As the world watches, all eyes will be on how North Korea’s leadership signals its intentions during major political events in the weeks ahead, which could either solidify Ju Ae’s position or reveal deeper fissures within the nation’s ruling elite.