Recent changes in North Korea have renewed questions about who might succeed Kim Jong Un. State media said Kim Yo Jong, the leader’s sister, was promoted to a ministerial-level party director role at the Workers’ Party Ninth Congress and named as a candidate for the Politburo. At the same time Kim Jong Un’s daughter, Kim Ju Ae—thought to be about 13—has appeared more often in official coverage, attending high-profile events with her father, including a recent nighttime military parade.
Some outlets have suggested these moves could foreshadow a future power struggle between the sister and the daughter. But several former South Korean intelligence and unification officials contacted by DW urged caution, calling rivalry scenarios speculative and premature.
Han Ki Bum, a former deputy chief of South Korea’s National Intelligence Service, described talk of a contest as “a hypothetical scenario with low credibility.” He stressed that, as a senior aide, Kim Yo Jong ultimately answers to her brother and that Kim Ju Ae’s young age and absence from the party congress make her an unlikely formal heir for now. Han also noted that Kim Jong Un’s own hold on power is not entirely settled and argued that the daughter’s public role is meant to signal continuity—legitimizing the leadership and portraying a next-generation presence at missile launches and military sites.
Kim Hyongseok, a former vice minister of unification, offered a similar view: Kim Ju Ae may be being presented symbolically as the future generation, but assigning any formal title would be difficult because of her age. He said rumors of a rivalry are unlikely until, and unless, the daughter were formally designated as heir or an extraordinary circumstance emerged involving Kim Jong Un.
Jeong Joon Hee, a former Unification Ministry spokesperson, warned that succession planning in Pyongyang typically follows a process of neutralizing rivals, and he argued Kim Jong Un would deal firmly with any challenge—even from family. Jeong added that a sudden death could elevate Kim Yo Jong’s role, though ambitious military figures might also seek influence in that event.
An anonymous former senior Unification Ministry official said experts remain divided on whether Kim Ju Ae has been designated heir. Ceremonial exposure can raise her profile, but a formal succession declaration would be premature. The official noted that this is normally the age for overseas schooling—both Kim Jong Un and Kim Yo Jong spent time in Switzerland—but the daughter’s visibility would complicate studying abroad. Citing a defector, the official also said North Korean tradition favors direct descendants, making it difficult for a sibling to become the top leader.
In short, analysts say Kim Yo Jong’s institutional rise and Kim Ju Ae’s growing visibility feed speculation but do not amount to clear succession plans. Both moves can be read as efforts to reinforce regime stability and validate Kim Jong Un’s authority; an overt family contest or immediate transfer of power appears unlikely at present.