Kim Jong Un appoints daughter, likely aged 13, as heir: Seoul's National Intelligence Service

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's daughter, Ju Ae, has been appointed as his heir, said South Korea's spy agency to lawmakers on Feb. 12, 2026.

Believed to be 13 years old, Ju Ae has had an increasingly prominent public presence beside her father at state events, reported the BBC.

She was recently pictured alongside her father on a high-profile trip to Beijing in September 2025, her first known overseas trip.

South Korea's National Intelligence Service (NIS) said it noted "a range of circumstances", including her public appearances, to make this assessment.

NIS keeping close tabs on Ju Ae's possible party congress appearance

The NIS said it would keep close tabs on whether Ju Ae will attend North Korea's largest political event, the party congress, which is held once every five years.

According to Chosun Daily, the speculated date for the 9th Party Congress is either Feb. 16, Kim Jong Il's birthday or after the Lunar New Year holiday, said the NIS.

Pyongyang plans and details priorities, such as foreign policy, war planning and nuclear ambitions for the next five years, at this congress, according to the BBC.

South Korean politician Lee Seong-kwen told reporters that Ju Ae has now reached the stage of "successor designation".

"As Kim Ju Ae has shown her presence at various events, including the founding anniversary of the Korean People's Army and her visit to the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun, and signs have been detected of her voicing her opinion on certain state policies."

The NIS had previously described her as being "trained" to be a successor.

Only known child

Ju Ae is the only known child of Kim Jong Un and his wife, Ri Sol Ju.

The NIS believes the couple have an older son, but he has not been acknowledged or revealed on North Korea state media.

The Korea Times reported on Feb. 13 that pictures of Ju Ae and her father have been displayed on the North Korean embassy's outdoor board in Beijing, taking centre stage.

This echoes the NIS's assessment of Ju Ae being designated as Kim's successor.

The embassy typically replaced the photos two or three times a year, and prior to this, the board only featured images of Kim or his meetings with Xi Jinping.

Top photo from KCNA