South Korea’s spy agency has said North Korean leader, Kim Jong Un’s daughter and apparent successor is believed to have a younger sibling. The assessment offers a clearer picture of the ruling family’s structure.

Seoul’s National Intelligence Service has previously indicated that Kim is believed to have three children, though the exact order of their births has remained uncertain. Kim’s daughter, Kim Ju Ae, first appeared in public in 2022 when she accompanied her father to the launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile.

According to the agency, Kim Ju Ae is currently assessed as being prepared for succession. Officials said they understand she has a younger sibling whose gender is not yet known.

The intelligence service added that it is still verifying whether Kim Ju Ae has an older brother. Even if such a sibling exists, the agency believes that person is not in a position to become the successor.

Since 2022, Kim Ju Ae has appeared at several major political events with her father, including a high-profile visit to Beijing.

North Korean state media have referred to her with titles usually reserved for top leaders and their designated successors.

Photo credit: Punch Newspaper