Foreign spies are eyeing the pre-teen daughter of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un as his possible successor despite the country’s male-centric leadership culture.

Ju Ae is Kim’s ‘probable successor’ according to Cho Tae-yong, South Korea’s nominee for National Intelligence Service chief. She was thought to be around 11 or 12 years old in early 2024. Ju Ae gained attention after appearing with her father at a military parade in Pyongyang.

The speculation around Kim's daughter is the first time South Korea’s spies have officially indicated Kim Ju Ae’s possible succession. The North Korean leader is significantly important as the country undergoes a paradigm shift in its approach toward South Korea - potentially treating the South as a separate, enemy state - in a move that might help the North justify an attack on Seoul with nuclear weapons.

According to SPYEX Consultant Kenneth Dekleva, a former State Department psychiatrist and author, Kim Jong-un marked his 12th year in power with military threats and a relentless pursuit of nuclear advancements including missile tests like Hwasong-18: "America’s policy of ‘strategic patience’ [2.0] has failed miserably, and we continue to ignore Kim at our great peril."

Here’s what we know about Kim’s daughter and possible successor.

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Ju Ae's title is Morning Star of Korea

Kim Ju Ae (sometimes spelled Ju-ae) was given her ‘lofty’ new official title - ‘Morning Star of Korea’ - in what seemed to be a deliberate parallel to North Korea’s founding leader Kim Il Sung, Radio Free Asia reported in late 2023. Kim Il Sung earned his title In the throes of guerrilla warfare against Japan's colonial rule over the Korean peninsula.

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Ju Ae is sporty

Ju Ae is believed to be Kim’s second child, alongside an older brother and another sibling, according to US lawmakers briefed by South Korea's National Intelligence Service. She was apparently homeschooled in Pyongyang and her hobbies include swimming and skiing but it was her excellent horseback riding skills that particularly please Kim Jong-un, ABC reports.
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Ju Ae's name is special in North Korea

Is your name Ju Ae? You might think about changing it if you’re planning a visit to North Korea or the DMZ demilitarized zone. North Korean authorities apparently ‘suggest’ anyone sharing a name with Kim Jong-un’s daughter should pick a new one. Sources in North Korea told Radio Free Asia in early 2023 that the government was “forcing” anyone named Ju Ae to change their moniker to something else - even though Kim Ju Ae hadn’t been officially named at the time. And if that isn’t confusing enough… 

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The Many Mysteries of Ju Ae

Ju Ae’s age is a mystery (although some news reports say she was born in 2013) and the exact number of Kim’s children and their gender aren't clear either, highlighting the uncertain nature of North Korea’s leadership succession. For a long time, North Korea wouldn’t even say if Ju Ae had any siblings. What we do know is that she’s been described as the "most beloved" daughter of Kim Jong-un. All the secrecy may seem mysterious in the West, but Kim Jong-un didn't make his official debut until he was around 26, NDTV reported.

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Nothing is final until it is final

Ju Ae made about 20 public appearances in the year after her public debut in 2022 and is referenced by state media as ‘beloved child’ or ‘respected child’, leading observers to assume she is being groomed to succeed Kim. That said, South Korea’s spymaster Cho said the succession of power is not definitive as Kim is still a relatively young leader. He was born in January 1984: “Since Kim Jong-un is still young and does not have significant health issues, and considering there are various uncertainties, we are monitoring all possibilities.”